Benefits of buying in-season fruits and vegetables購買當季果蔬，益處不止一點點

陳青素

Plan to buy your fruits and vegetables during their peak seasons， and you'll not only enjoy them more， but save money while maximizing nutrition.

Think of the experience of a perfectly ripe， juicy summer tomato—rich red color， perfect consistency， bursting with flavor. Buying vegetables and fruits in season makes them more enjoyable—and thats not the only benefit， according to NYC-based registered dietitian Lisa Hayim. “When you purchase produce at peak season， you get more natural nutrients. Because seasonal fruits and vegetables dont undergo lengthy transit times to get from farm to your kitchen， these essential vitamins and minerals are more likely to be preserved by the time youre ready to eat your produce，” she says. In fact， the Cleveland Clinic reports that spinach （菠菜） can provide up to three times more vitamin C when consumed in season—September through October.

Youll also save money. Shorter travel time for your produce means lower shipping costs， which lowers the grocers price， and those savings get passed on to you at checkout. “Theres also the law of supply and demand，” says Los Angeles-based registered dietitian Lindsey Pine. “When fruits and vegetables are in season， the farmers will most likely have an abundance of the crop and prices will go down.” For example， Gaiam reports that out-of-season basil runs $3 per half ounce; in season， its just $1 to $2. This is just one of the secrets your farmers market isnt telling you.

If youre looking for the freshest of the fresh， your local farmers market is a great place to start. If youre short on shopping time， join a CSA （Community-Supported Agriculture） for fresh， picked-that-morning produce sourced directly from a local farm. And when youre shopping at the grocery store， you can buy in-season vegetables and fruits with this guide to ensure you get the biggest nutritional bang for your buck.

—From Reader's Digest

Reading Check

Answer the following questions.

1. What are the benefits of buying seasonal fruits and vegetables？

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2. Why can you get more nutrients when buying produce at peak season？

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3. Why is the seasonal produce much cheaper？

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4. Where should you go if youre looking for the freshest produce？

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Language Study

Difficult sentences

1. Shorter travel time for your produce means lower shipping costs， which lowers the grocers price， and those savings get passed on to you at checkout.

翻譯：? ? _______________________________________

【點石成金】該句中的Shorter travel time...costs為主句，and those savings...checkout為一個并列句，中間的which lowers...price為非限制性定語從句。

2. And when youre shopping at the grocery store， you can buy in-season vegetables and fruits with this guide to ensure you get the biggest nutritional bang for your buck.

翻譯：? ? _______________________________________

【點石成金】該句中when youre...store為時間狀語從句，主句為后面的you can...for your buck，其中bang for your buck表示“花最少的錢得到最大的效果”。