Louisiana Nursery locations are receiving fruits and vegetables as we head into spring, so now is a great time to discuss the benefits of home-grown produce! Speaking from my own experience, a family member with a small garden of cucumbers and tomatoes is what really piqued my interest about growing. I remember a school project once where I nurtured a seed in a wet paper towel to sprouting, but they aren’t comparable experiences. Looking back, I couldn’t believe at how distinctly richer the cucumbers I helped grow and picked fresh were than the store-bought ones. I will admit that the satisfaction of eating the fruits I had labored for played a role, but there is real merit to the different (and better) flavor of freshly picked produce.
Large brand-named growers that have taken over most of the produce section in big-box markets often ship their food hundreds of miles. This means the product that the end consumer receives may have been picked well before it was ripe, is lacking in essential nutrients, and tastes the same if not worse! You may not be able to avoid a trip to Walmart entirely by growing your own food, but you’ll save a considerable amount of money per month just by planting what works best in our climate. We also must remember that the largest commercial growers use industrial processes like mass harvesting with heavy machinery, not the typical farmer tending crops in overalls that they print on labels before shipping. Home-growers and local farms conserve an average of 50-100% more nutrients in their produce by refraining from harsh chemicals to keep the product “looking” better than it tastes. This is not me bashing the industry so much as pointing out the fact that – while extremely efficient and cost-effective – consumers are losing the benefits of flavor and health.
Louisiana Nursery supports the wave of new gardeners incorporating freshly grown produce at the diner table. We offer a wide variety of seed packets and adolescent produce that can go straight into the ground! It’s something healthy that brings the family together and saves you some money on the backend. No bruising, no unnecessary chemical treatment to extend shelf-life, just great tasting food.
Have a blessed day!
