Seasonal Food: Buy direct. Eat local.

Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help you stay healthy. According to Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy, eating fresh produce helps prevent cancer, heart disease and stroke. It can also lower high blood pressure, lower high cholesterol and keep your vision
strong.
It’s important to eat the freshest fruits and vegetables you can find. Organic farmer Henry Brockman said, “As soon as a vegetable is picked it begins losing nutritional value.” Green beans and leeks lose half of key nutrients just three days after being picked.
Next time you buy produce, check the sign to see where it was grown. Instead of buying fruits that were harvested elsewhere – before they were ripe – consider buying fruits that are in season, grown locally and picked at their peak. Not only will they taste better, but they’ll be better for you, too.

Adapted from Lappé, A. and Terry, B. (2006). Grub: Ideas for an urban organic kitchen. New York: Penguin Group.

Where to Find It
According to about.com, California grows 80% of the fruits and vegetables in the U.S., so there's plenty of fresh, local produce available. Besides frequenting local produce stands and Berkeley Bowl, check out one of the many Farmers' Markets near you. Here are some close to my neighborhood:

Alameda Farmers' Market
Haight Ave. & Webster Street, Alameda
Tuesdays, 9:00am to 1:00pm, year-round
Saturdays, 9:00am to 1:00pm, year-round

Jack London Square Farmers' Market
Webster & Embarcadero Street, Oakland
Sundays, 9:00am to 2:00pm, year-round

Kaiser Permanente Oakland Farmers' Market
Kaiser Medical Center, 3801 Howe Street, Oakland
Fridays, 10:00am to 2:00pm, year-round

Old Oakland Farmers' Market
Ninth Street (between Broadway and Clay), Oakland
Fridays, 8:00am to 2:00pm, year-round