Seasonal Fruits

Seasonal fruits are simply fruits that are at a peak in terms of harvest and flavor in a particular season. Eating fruits in their respective seasons has a number of benefits ranging from economic, nutritional, and even taste. India is one of the leading producers of fruits in the world. Through this article, we’ll have a look at some of the seasonal fruits in India, and why you should consume fruits in their season.

Benefits of Eating Fruits Seasonally

Here are some of the benefits of seasonal fruits consumption -

The healthiest way to get your fruits

Fruits when grown in their seasons are much healthier as they are not transported over a long distance or processed, thereby ensuring their freshness. In the off-season, fruits are generally sold after they are processed to last longer using various techniques that can reduce their nutritional content. For instance, blanching can reduce the vitamins in the fruit, dehydrating can reduce vitamin C in fruits, and so on. On top of this, fruits in the season always taste better too!

Support the Locals

If you consume fruits that are in season, it will support the local farmers and producers who work hard to get these healthy fruits for you. The price you pay for these fresh seasonal fruits will in fact directly go to them unlike off-season fruits sold through supermarkets.

Benefits of the Environment

Shipping fruits across long distances, processing the food, etc. takes a toll on the environment. A wide range of chemicals and gases are released into the environment, as well as a large amount of energy is used during refrigeration of these fruits. To top it all, producing fruits in season requires very few fertilizers as compared to growing them in the offseason.

Save a Rupee or Two

Fruits that are in season are almost always cheaper than when they are offseason. This is due to the large supply of these fruits in the specific season. This will allow you to get fruits at more reasonable prices. Although, in cities, due to transportation and handling charges, you may not notice the price difference. As a result, always try to get fruits directly from the local farmers and producers.

List of Seasonal Fruits in India

There are numerous seasonal fruits in India. Some are grown all around the year, and the others are grown in the 4 seasons in India namely - summer, winter, fall, spring.

Year-Round Fruits

These fruits don’t need a specific season to be produced. As a result, they are grown throughout the year.

Apples

One of the most common fruits in the world, apples is also one of the healthiest. There is a wide range of apples that are available in the Indian market. You will find apples available in any season. Apples are a rich source of fiber and therefore aid in weight loss. Apart from this, apples benefit the body in a number of ways ranging from boosting bone and heart health to even preventing certain types of cancer and diabetes.

Apricots

Low in calories and high in nutrients, apricot is the fruit of the apricot tree. Apricots are harvested all around the year, although it is at a higher yield in the spring season. Apricots are high in antioxidants and a number of vitamins and minerals. It is great at promoting eye health, skin health, and even for the gut. The high potassium content in the fruit also helps in regulating your blood pressure and functioning of the muscle-nerve system.

Avocados

Also known as butter fruit in India, avocado is a highly nutritious fruit grown around the year. It is eaten as a fruit, used in milkshakes, as well as an ingredient in several dishes including guacamole. The fruit is loaded with fiber and heart-healthy fatty acids. In fact, it even has more potassium than bananas! Avocados are a great fruit to reduce cholesterol levels, improve eye health, and even to provide relief from arthritis.

Bananas

Banana is a popular fruit consumed all around the globe. It is one of the most powerful fruits out there and can be found during any season. There are a number of varieties of bananas including plantains (used in cooking). Filled with nutrients, bananas are great at regulating blood sugar levels, weight loss, and even boost heart health.

Coconut

Coconut is the fruit of the coconut palm and is a common fruit consumed around the world. In fact, the fruit is so valuable that almost every part of it is used in one way or the other. The water known as coconut water can be consumed as a drink, the milk (coconut milk) extracted from the flesh of the inner seed is used in cooking, the shell can be converted into charcoal, and the husk can be used to make coir. Coconut water is a great rehydration drink. It can also boost heart health. The flesh of the coconut and the water contain antioxidant properties that are great for the immune system.

Lemons

Lemon, despite its small size, contains a large number of nutrients. It is grown from a small evergreen tree. Lemon is filled with vitamin C and fiber which makes it adept at improving the immunity system, helping in weight loss, as well as improving skin and hair health.

Papayas

Papaya is a fruit containing orange flesh and black seeds. Though it is comparatively less popular, it is an incredibly healthy fruit. It helps in digestion, improves heart health, improves skin conditions, and has powerful antioxidant properties. Several studies have even shown that papaya contains anti-cancer properties.

Fruits in Winter

There are a few fruits that require a cool climate to produce seeds. These are grown in the winter months, typically between December and January.

Dates

Dates are a popular fruit grown in many tropical regions of the world. Dates have exceptional nutritional values with a high amount of carbs. Dates are great at improving brain health and contain rich amounts of fiber. The fruit is also rich in antioxidants that help fight diseases. In pregnant women, dates can help induce natural labor.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit is a citrus fruit believed to have originated in Barbados. The fruit is also considered as one of the healthiest citrus fruits. Grapefruits have a low-calorie content yet high in nutrients. They are great at boosting immunity, aiding weight loss, and even preventing diabetes by maintaining insulin levels. They are rich in antioxidants and are found to improve heart health as well.

Kiwi

Also known as Chinese gooseberry, kiwi is a fruit native to central and eastern China. This small fruit packs quite the punch with a number of nutrients. From aiding in digestion, boosting the immune system, maintaining blood pressure, to even treating asthma, kiwi is a healthy fruit.