Sometimes I fall into a summer’s gone rut… the warm weather, the beach, the fresh produce from my garden. There’s something energetic and vibrant about the summer months. I take my kids to local parks, farm stands, and nightly walks around the neighborhood.

Then falls sneaks in. It gets breezy and chilly. Instead of heading out, I want to turn on the fireplace and cuddle up with a warm bowl of soup.

Every year, I initially curse fall for ruining my summer until I realize all the outdoor fun still available in the fall. Fall brings a new harvest like apples, pumpkins, and pears which are all in season. Many farms allow you to pick your own, creating a fun fall activity! Here’s a few reasons why you should go picking with the kids this year:

Food Education. I have a very inquisitive 1st grader who asks things at the dinner table like, “Do pomegranates grow on trees or bushes?”  “How do they make hot dogs?”  I like to think this interest is the result of all the Farmer’s Market trips, fruit picking and involvement in the kitchen he’s experienced since toddler-hood. Kids learn best by doing and there’s nothing like sparking interest while plucking a sweet apple from a tree. Of course you can pair your fresh apples, with Laughing Cow wedges for a fun, satisfying snack, too!

Food Appreciation. Have you ever heard the phrase “No Farms, No Food?” When you take your kids to a farm they learn to appreciate the work it takes for food to make it into the home. Someone does that hard work of growing, picking, and transporting all the stuff we eat on a daily basis. By letting them pick their own food they get to see that things don’t simply appear in stores without the hard work of others.

Fresh Air. According to Prevention.com, children who spend more time outside “have lower stress levels, more success in school, and fewer ADHD symptoms.” Sometimes you need a reason to actually get outside, especially as it gets cooler out. That reason could be fresh fruit picking!

Exercise. We tend to look at exercise as “going to the gym” or “running” but I think we’ve got it all wrong. In my opinion exercise is anytime I’m not sitting on the couch watching TV or playing on the computer. Strolling through an orchard or pumpkin patch definitely counts as a form of exercise!

Support Local Farmers. You and the kids aren’t the only ones who benefit from a little local produce picking. You’re also supporting your local farmers by visiting and purchasing produce on a regular basis.

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