{"id":7608,"date":"2026-05-26T14:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7608"},"modified":"2026-05-26T14:30:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T14:30:00","slug":"your-spring-harvest-farm-to-table-must-haves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7608","title":{"rendered":"Your spring-harvest farm-to-table must-haves"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"tni-source-date\"><strong>Originally published:<\/strong> 2026-05-26T14:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A guide to enjoying spring\u2019s bounty on your plate<\/h2>\n<p>Spring is known for longer days, warmer weather and new growth. This includes the growth of vibrant <a href=\"https:\/\/snaped.fns.usda.gov\/resources\/nutrition-education-materials\/seasonal-produce-guide\/spring\" rel=\"noopener\">produce<\/a> like leafy greens, root vegetables, berries and herbs.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why buy in-season produce?<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Better taste and nutritional value. Fruits and vegetables picked at peak ripeness are packed with flavor and nutrients. Out-of-season produce is often picked early to withstand long transport times. This can lead to less flavor and fewer nutrients.<\/li>\n<li>Budget friendly. Locally grown, seasonal foods cost less to transport and process, so they\u2019re often cheaper. Buying local, <a href=\"https:\/\/news.va.gov\/117071\/va-dietitian-recommends-farmers-markets\/\">such as at community farmers markets<\/a>, supports your community and family-owned farms.<\/li>\n<li>Support the environment. Local produce travels shorter distances, meaning lower emissions and less need for preservatives or chemical treatments. Choosing in-season, local produce is an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nutrition.va.gov\/NUTRITION\/Sustainability.asp\" rel=\"noopener\">eco-friendly<\/a> choice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spring seasonal \u201cmust-haves\u201d<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/snaped.fns.usda.gov\/resources\/nutrition-education-materials\/seasonal-produce-guide\/swiss-chard\" rel=\"noopener\">Leafy greens<\/a>. Collard greens, kale, spinach and Swiss chard grow well in spring. They\u2019re rich in vitamins (B, C, E, and K) and micronutrients (magnesium, calcium, potassium and iron). Rinse them well and remove the leaves from the stalk before cooking. Try this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nutrition.va.gov\/NUTRITION\/docs\/Recipes\/SideDishes\/Sauteed-Swiss-ChardOCT2021.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">Sauteed Swiss Chard<\/a> for an easy side dish.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/snaped.fns.usda.gov\/resources\/nutrition-education-materials\/seasonal-produce-guide\/asparagus\" rel=\"noopener\">Asparagus<\/a>. High in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nutrition.va.gov\/NUTRITION\/Fiber.asp\" rel=\"noopener\">fiber<\/a>, vitamin K and folate, asparagus is another veggie to try this spring. Asparagus can be eaten raw, but most people prefer it cooked. If preparing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=sK1xQv_fZCU&amp;list=PL3AQ_JVoBEywA0DxUr5WalEVr6iGcnjYf&amp;index=21\" rel=\"noopener\">fresh asparagus<\/a>, cut off the tough bottom third of each stalk before cooking. Try combining two spring vegetables for a true seasonal powerhouse with this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nutrition.va.gov\/NUTRITION\/docs\/Recipes\/SideDishes\/AsparagusandSpinachRisottoAPR2021.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">Asparagus and Spinach Risotto<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/snaped.fns.usda.gov\/resources\/nutrition-education-materials\/seasonal-produce-guide\/strawberries\" rel=\"noopener\">Berries<\/a>. Blackberries and strawberries are some of the first fruits ready in spring. They\u2019re low in calories and high in fiber, making them a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9PJIoHQdnWI&amp;list=PL3AQ_JVoBEywA0DxUr5WalEVr6iGcnjYf&amp;index=25\" rel=\"noopener\">great snack<\/a> or meal addition. Wash and dry berries thoroughly before eating. Store them in a paper towel-lined container to keep them fresh. For a quick, no-cook breakfast, try this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nutrition.va.gov\/NUTRITION\/docs\/Recipes\/BerryYogurtProteinBowlsOCT2022.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">Berry Yogurt Protein Bowl<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/snaped.fns.usda.gov\/resources\/nutrition-education-materials\/seasonal-produce-guide\/herbs\" rel=\"noopener\">Herbs<\/a>. Basil, mint, chives, parsley and cilantro are a few spring plants that are great to use in your meal preparation. Adding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nutrition.va.gov\/NUTRITION\/docs\/UpdatedPatientEd\/GrowingHerbsForCookingJun2024.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">fresh herbs<\/a> boosts flavor without adding salt and sugar. Try this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nutrition.va.gov\/NUTRITION\/Recipes\/DressingsSaucesSeasonings\/docs\/Fresh-Herb-ChimichurriOCT2021.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">Fresh Herb Chimichurri<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nutrition.va.gov\/NUTRITION\/Recipes\/DressingsSaucesSeasonings\/docs\/Fresh-Herb-PestoOCT2021.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">Fresh Herb Pesto<\/a> to marinade, dress or top your next meal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Find ways to add seasonal produce into your meals by checking out VA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nutrition.va.gov\/Healthy_Teaching_Kitchen.asp\" rel=\"noopener\">Healthy Teaching Kitchen<\/a> program website and speaking with a VA dietitian.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p class=\"tni-attribution\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/news.va.gov\/146981\/your-spring-harvest-farm-to-table-must-haves\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You should incorporate seasonal produce into your meals this spring. But not just because we said so. (We&#8217;re also saying so.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":151,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7608","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s-veterans-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Your spring-harvest farm-to-table must-haves - Its Veterans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"You should incorporate seasonal produce into your meals this spring. But not just because we said so. 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