easy to say “buy American” simply from a patriotic impulse. But the truth is that the benefits of buying American—at least when it comes to purified vegetables—can go far beyond the emotional appeal that comes with eating your red, white, and blue inclinations on your mouth. Buying vegetables grown in the USA has many advantages for product developers, and we’ll discuss four today. Regular readers of this space won’t be surprised to find that that this conversation has to start with sustainability.

The most valuable nutrients are lost when cooked at high temperature .  

Prolonged exposure to water, heat, and light may cause some foods to lose nutritional value. While this isn’t a big problem for sources of proteins and carbohydrates, it’s a definite concern when cooking vegetables and fruits rich in water-soluble or heat-sensitive vitamins and minerals. To address this problem, stick with cooking methods that are quick and rely on very little moisture, while also picking and storing foods in the most appropriate manner.

Puree Ginger Carrots and Buttery Mushrooms