Many of us have heard the phrase “eat seasonally and locally” before, but what exactly does it mean? Eating seasonally means consuming fruits and vegetables at the time of year when they are naturally grown and harvested. Eating locally means purchasing food items that are grown or produced close to where you live, rather than items that are shipped in from other parts of the world or country. These two practices can bring numerous benefits to both individuals and the environment.
1. Nutrient-rich foods
Eating fruits and vegetables that are in season ensures that you’re consuming them at their peak nutritional value. As crops ripen, they develop a higher concentration of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making them more nutrient-dense than their out-of-season counterparts. Eating locally also ensures fresher produce, as it doesn’t have to travel across long distances, resulting in less time between harvesting and consumption, which equates to a shorter shelf life.
2. Supports the local economy
Purchasing food that is grown and produced locally supports local farmers and businesses, keeping money in the community. This can have a ripple effect on the local economy, creating more job opportunities, boosting tourism, and generally improving the area’s financial health and wellbeing.
3. Better for the environment
Eating locally grown food can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of your diet. Shipping food thousands of miles across the world or country requires significant resources, including fuel, packaging materials, and emissions from shipping vehicles. By eating locally, you’re reducing the distance food has to travel, thereby reducing the associated carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Taste better
Seasonal food that’s grown locally tastes better than out-of-season produce that needs to be shipped from far away. The reason for this is that crops grow in soil, climate, and sunlight specific to their region and season, resulting in unique flavors. For example, strawberries grown locally in the summer generally taste sweeter than those grown out of season in a different climate.
5. Cost savings
When you buy food that’s in season and grown locally, you’re likely to pay less than when you buy items that have been grown farther away. When you don’t have to pay for packaging, storage, and transportation, food prices become more affordable.
6. Supports biodiversity
Eating seasonally and locally can help to preserve biodiversity, which refers to the variety of plant and animal life in a given ecosystem. By supporting small-scale farmers, you’re helping to maintain a diverse landscape of crops, rather than relying on a narrow range of industrial products. This also helps to ensure that herbs, fruits, and vegetables that are native to the area don’t become extinct because of mass production.
In conclusion, eating seasonally and locally is an excellent way to support local farmers, improve your health with nutrient-rich foods, and reduce your carbon footprint on the environment. So if you’re looking for a way to make your diet more sustainable while supporting your community, consider making the switch to seasonal and local foods. You’ll be doing yourself and the planet a favor in doing so.
