Stroll in the season while stocking-up  on the joys of homegrown produce at your local farmer’s market.

Summer is the season to take everything you love to the outdoors- grocery shopping should be no exception. Finding the freshest fruits and vegetables is just the beginning of the advantages to shopping at your local farmer’s market.  Produce often reaches the booths hours after being harvested. In a majority of markets, the food is organic as well.

There are a few things you can do to make the most of your market experience. Arrive early in the morning to avoid the heat and ensure your picks are the crème of the crop. If you do arrive later, however, a small cooler is useful to keep things cool until you get home.  Also, make sure you have a secure cloth or plastic bag to protect your goods while you browse. After a few visits, you’ll be a seasoned pro and discover which vendors have the best goods to offer.

Research shows that eating 5-10 serving of vegetables and fruit a day can help control diabetes and reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer. 
When choosing which tempting healthy items to choose from, here are a few tips to consider:

• Choose Color: Choosing a wide array of different-colored fruits and vegetables guarantees you will have a wide selection of various nutrients, antioxidants and vitamins.
  
  
• Fresh is Best: Look for vegetables with smooth, crisp and shiny exteriors. Avoid  produce that’s overly wrinkled, discolored or over-ripe. Green beans should have smooth, crisp pods. Vine-ripened tomatoes should feel heavy for their size. Beware of limp, soft or wrinkled bell peppers. Peel back corn husks to ensure your corn has plump and tightly compacted kernels for tasty results. 
   
• Rub-a-Dub Dub: Wash all purchases thoroughly under cold running water before cutting or eating whole.
   
• Easy Freezing: You can freeze many types of fruit for up to one year. Grapes, cherries, berries and melon freeze particularly well. Place on a single layer on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer. Once frozen, put in freezer bags for maximum storage.