• By Lynne Mitchell
• Posted Friday, June 18, 2010

Buy It Local!

Summertime means an abundance of fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. The Forsyth County Department of Public Health encourages residents to shop at local Farmers Markets for fresh, affordable, and tasty local produce. Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that may help protect you from chronic diseases. Compared with people who consume a diet with only small amounts of fruits and vegetables, those who eat more generous amounts as part of a healthful diet are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases, including stroke and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers.

To get a healthy variety, think color. Eating fruits and vegetables of different colors gives your body a wide range of valuable nutrients, like fiber, folate, potassium, and vitamins A and C. Some examples include green spinach, orange sweet potatoes, black beans, yellow corn, purple plums, red watermelon, and white onions. For more variety, try new fruits and vegetables regularly.

Information on Local Farmer's Markets