Fresh Fruits & Vegetables are part of what we’ll concentrate on this month. It’s made easier when we can grow our own, now that summer is upon us.
June is Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Month:
A Celebration of Nature’s Medicine
June marks Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Month in the United States. It is a time to spotlight the critical role that produce plays in disease prevention, nutrition, and overall wellness. Backed by the USDA and health organizations like the Produce for Better Health Foundation, this observance highlights the power of plants to transform poor health into good health and maintain it.
We need to eat less “red meat,” sweets, and unnatural carbs and eat more natural fruits & vegetables.
We need phytonutrients that processed foods kill!
📜 A Brief History
Skip to the information about fruits and vegetables if you don’t care about history! 
- Observance of Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Month is recognized through USDA and CDC-aligned initiatives, as well as by individual efforts of companies and social groups throughout the country.
- Some agencies and organizations have built health education campaigns like “Fruits & Veggies— More Matters.” They attempt not only to educate but to inspire people to make purchases from local farmers and vendors, and to make better choices for health in what they consume.
- The designation of June as the Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Month supports the goals of Healthy People 2030 and local nutrition programs
🥗 What Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Month Emphasizes
- Nutrient Density: Focus on high-fiber, low-calorie options full of vitamins and antioxidants.
- Seasonal & Local Eating: They provide better taste, better nutrition, and a reduced carbon footprint.
- Chronic Disease Prevention: Reduce risks of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity by eating fresh fruits & vegetables.
- Color Variety: “Eat the Rainbow” of fresh fruits & vegetables to get a broad range of phytonutrients.
- Accessibility: Promote SNAP, WIC, farmers markets, and school-based programs.
🌈 Eat the Rainbow
We need protein, too, so eating eggs may be included in healthful habits.
- 🔴 Red: Tomatoes, Strawberries – Lycopene & Anthocyanins
- 🟠 Orange/Yellow: Carrots, Mangoes – Beta-carotene, Vitamin C
- 🟢 Green: Spinach, Kale – Folate, Lutein, Iron
- 🔵 Blue/Purple: Blueberries, Eggplant – Powerful antioxidants
- ⚪ White: Onions, Garlic – Allicin, Quercetin for immunity
Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Month Emphasizes Disease Prevention
Advocates focus on produce known to reduce the risk of:
- Cancer (e.g., tomatoes, broccoli, berries)
- Heart disease (e.g., avocados, leafy greens)
- Type 2 diabetes (e.g., non-starchy vegetables like cucumbers and zucchini)
- Obesity (fiber-rich options for satiety and weight control)
📣 Supporting Campaigns for Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Month
Seasonal and Local Eating
When you eat produce that is in season and grown locally, it provides:
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- Better taste and nutrient density
- Lower environmental impact
- Support of local agriculture
There are many activities to use in educating your friends, family, and community, such as:
- MyPlate: USDA recommendation to fill half your plate with produce.
- School Initiatives: “Veggie of the Month” campaigns, cooking demos.
- Community Action: Farmers market vouchers and other local Community Supported Agriculture awareness groups or companies.
This June, make your plate a celebration of life, color, and healing!
Eat to Live, by Joel Fuhrman, M. D.
I learned so much about the nutrient deficit that happens when people combine and eat foods typically found in the American diet. The teacher was Dr. Furhman, whom I watched often on PBS in the past years. I hope you will check it out.
Self-Care Is the New Health Care
Let’s Get Well, Stay Well, and Live Well!
