DISCOVER BENEFITS OF SEASONAL LOCAL PRODUCE

While the fruit and veg shelves in supermarkets may look identical all year round, there are different seasonal fruits and vegetables that we can discover and look out for to enjoy at certain times of the year. 

The convenience we have in today’s world to consume food from all over the world at any given time has driven our society to be blind towards seasonal produce. It seems we have been brought into the illusion that seasonality seems ancient and that there is no need to live in this outdated way when our current food system has never limited the produce we love from overseas. 

Walking into the supermarket on a gloomy day in December and being surrounded by bright fruits, such as strawberries and pineapples may not spike our attention. After all, we are used to being surrounded by this produce all year round. But a critical concern of not eating seasonal produce is the carbon footprint of overseas food. It is vital to support a more sustainable food economy and to consider the lengths overcome by some of the bright and colourful, plastically wrapped produce sitting tightly in our trolleys. Next time you find yourself in a supermarket, why not take a look at where all the items in your basket have been grown? You’ll soon realise you have just taken a trip all around the world by standing in a cramped supermarket.

In addition to the heavy carbon footprint which is used to transport our out-of-season goods, it’s important for our health to consider and question how these supposedly ‘fresh’ items, which have travelled across the hemisphere, are presented in such good shape. Buying out-of-season produce means unfortunately agreeing to the consumption of pesticides and preservatives. It’s not at all surprising that food which has travelled for four to five days needs a little restoration. These chemicals are unfortunately a recurrence to our modern food system, making their way into our diets and potentially causing long-term side effects. 

Eating seasonally connects you to produce which is harvested at its peak, fusing you with vital vitamins and minerals and most importantly untouched with flavours or colours. Seasonal products support our needs for that specific time, and our bodies begin to crave for produce dense in nutrients we are lacking in. In preparation for winter, our body craves Vitamin D and immune boosting foods. Our natural local produce supports our needs by producing foods bursting with these nutrients such as mushrooms, carrots and sweet potatoes… acknowledging how wise our nature is is very fascinating. 

The impact of Covid-19 has made supporting our local economy more important now than ever. Shopping from a local farmers market will always feel more rewarding and grounding than the feeling of entering a crowded, plastic packaged supermarket. Feeling connected to your community and to the natural cycles of our earth is vital in getting in touch with the earth’s natural rhythms. 

So what seasonal produce should you be consuming in December? 

Take a look at our December guide!