The Food Industry and How to Shop Smart

The food industry is a complicated and intricate business. Most of us know the inherent issues in the fast-food industry, from the shifty ingredients and food handling to the inhumane production, corporate policies and basic hygienic issues — despite the wealth of information available on this subject, the fast-food industry is still a trillion dollar business.

Processed and packaged foods have been around long enough for us to mindlessly trust name brands and foods we’ve grown up with and love, but there is more to consider when our health is on the line. Thanks to famed documentaries Food Inc., Super Size Me and Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, we are well aware of the falsehoods sold to us by the food production industry through marketing and advertising.

The spotlight on the food industry in recent years has made alternate options, such as farm to table, all the more appealing. The artisanal term may seem highfalutin, but it is the reaction to an overproduced culture looking for an escape to simpler, cleaner and honest ingredients.

Thanks to mass production and the need for a back-to-basics food economy, farm to table, sustainable, organic and whole foods are more accessible, but for a price. With corporate consolidation buying out up-and-coming industries on the rise, farm to table is not always as simple as it sounds.

The economics and logistics of the food production system have become a bit foggy in recent years. With millions of farms nationwide folding under government policy pressure to adhere to factory farm regulations for producing dairy, eggs and meat, the concept of sustainable, local, organic and farm-to-table food has become more and more appealing. The more we educate ourselves on the food industry’s level of waste, less than appealing policies, treatment of animals and use of chemicals in everyday foods, the more educated decisions we can make about our food and, ultimately, health.

Taking the time to thoughtfully shop and dine can feel like a full-time job, but these quick and easy tips may help you shop smarter.

Buy in-season vegetables and fruits. By opting for produce that’s in season, you can cut costs and have the pick of the least genetically modified options. This will be much easier to do when you’re at a local farmer’s market as the in-season options will be available in abundance, but the grocery store may make this a little more difficult. Just consider the following produce by month list your personal guide:

January–February:

Heartier vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and leeks will be in season. Fruits will include mostly a citrus variety of grapefruit, oranges, tangerines, lemons, papayas and tangelos.

March:

This month adds in a little variety with lettuce coming into season for vegetables and pineapple and mango in the fruit department.

April:

While pineapple and mango will still be in season, April boasts a wide variety of vegetables, including zucchini, spring peas, asparagus, artichokes and rhubarb. Lettuce and broccoli should still be in season as well, making April a bright start to the produce season.

May:

Shop for all the same produce as April, with okra added to the mix. This versatile vegetable can be sliced raw in salads or seasoned and cooked. Enjoy cherries, pineapples and apricots in May, as well.

June–August:

The summer months bring peak vegetables, from corn, lettuce, tomatoes, summer squash, cucumbers and green beans. For fruits, you will be seeing a lot of options from watermelon, strawberries, peaches, blueberries, kiwi, plums, raspberries, cantaloupe and apricots.

September:

Bringing in the fall season, shop for eggplants, pumpkins, spinach and some tomatoes and lettuce. Grapes and pomegranates will be available to add some variety to your haul.

October–December:

The fall to early winter months add carrots, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, purple potatoes, white potatoes, beets, celeriac, mushrooms, kale and winter squash for vegetables. For your fruits, shop for apples, oranges, pears, cranberries, grapes and pomegranates.

For year-round, fresh farm-raised produce, buy an abundance of the seasonally fresh items and set aside some in the freezer for later.

There are countless ways to consciously shop for food and produce and not lean so much on packaged foods. Completely cutting out processed foods can be a real challenge, but shopping smart as often as possible can definitely help.