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 Eating Seasonal Food is bliss not many wishes to miss. Something is comforting about eating a mango in the harsh Indian summers, or a juicy orange in the winter. Nothing is better (or more economical) than walking out to the garden and picking the ingredients for your next meal. Recall the crisp, sweet taste of bhutta/challi/corncob or boiled/grilled sweet potato that you get at a roadside stand in mid-August; sometimes you don’t even need dressing because it’s so fresh. The wholesome, taste, and nutrient richness of this treat are at their peak because the corn is picked right from the stalk as a seasonal, late-summer vegetable. Even in the age-old Indian science of Ayurveda, eating according to the season is strongly advocated, and it was termed as Ritucharya.

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Eating Seasonal may seem like a recent trend, but it was the norm for generations, long before big grocery stores and farming advances. There are some huge benefits to eating with the seasons.

What is ‘Eating Seasonal’ Food?

The concept of eating seasonal food is really simple. It involves eating foods that are grown at the same time as you eat them. As most fruits and vegetables are being grown somewhere in the world at any one time, eating seasonally more specifically concerns eating produce that’s being grown right now – locally.

The main aim of this? To minimize the time it takes for the fresh produce you buy to get from the ground or the tree to your plate. But why?

It Tastes Better:

 In-season produce is fresher and tastes better, sweeter, and perfectly ripe. When fruits and vegetables are picked for consumption that has been naturally ripened on the vine or the tree and harvested at the right time, it will have much more flavor and nutrition. Most people have experienced that super juicy perfectly sweet orange in winter or that crispy sweet pineapple in summer when eating seasonal.

When transporting crops, it must be harvested early and refrigerated so they don’t spoil during transportation; chilling will reduce the flavor. When they get to their destination they then may need to be heated in a hothouse to artificially ripen the produce before it goes onto the shelves, this greatly reduces the flavor, changes the texture and the taste. Think of those floury apples, flavorless tomatoes, and limp tasteless greens. You may find that the food may be half-rotten inside or overly fibrous such as an out-of-season cucumber.

It’s Much Economical:

First and foremost, eating seasonal food could keep your money in the bank. When fruits and vegetables are out of season in your area, they either have to be grown in managed conditions or transported from the other side of the world. Both of these processes cost lots of money, and that cost gets passed on to you – the consumer. When you are eating seasonal food, local produce can be grown in natural conditions and easily transported to the point of sale, making it much more affordable.

When farmers are harvesting a large abundance of produce due to the crop being in season, the cost of the produce will go down. When the produce is locally sourced because it’s in season in your area, then traveling expenses and storage are not required therefore reducing the production costs that are then passed onto the consumer. When we buy produce that is out of season, it’s normally sourced from out of area locations that have a different climate. Also, it can also be stored for long periods of time to offer people a variety of produce all year round, these factors will push the price up. 

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It’s Healthier:

Produce that is purchased in season is more likely to be fresher, consumed closer to harvesting, and higher in nutritional value. Some antioxidants such as Vitamin C, folate, and carotenes will rapidly decline when stored for periods of time. Locally in-season sourced fruits and vegetables will also appear brighter and more vibrant rather than limp and dried up. Fruits and vegetables that are stored for long periods of time due to transportation or to be used at a later date. Therefore have a reduction in phytonutrient content. Large markets and grocers may buy out-of-season produce that has been gassed, irradiated (a burst of radiation to kill germs), and preserved in wax to the extent the shelf life.

             Also in winter, we are provided by nature all things citrus, these are particularly high in Vitamin C . It is very important for preventing infections such as colds and cases of flu. Winter vegetables offer comfort and are perfect for hot curries, healthy fries, soups, barbeques, and other warming meals. Summer foods such as all of the bottle gourd and pumpkin provide us with extra beta-carotenes and other carotenoids that help protect us against sun damage. They also provide more sweetness for an energetic summer, as well as salad vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes for those tasty cool summer salad. Try this healthy broccoli salad recipe.

                                For the same reason, eating seasonal fruit and veg taste better, it’s also healthier. It’s no surprise that being locked in cargo holds and shipping containers for days, in order to reach us, is detrimental for the nutritional content of the food. As a rule of thumb; the fresher the better, and you can’t get much fresher than eating seasonally-grown local produce.

It Supports Your Local Farmer:

Buying your produce from the local farmer’s market is a great way to build community, but also allows you to feel more connected to where your food is coming from and who is growing it.
When you buy foods out of season, the profits are being swallowed up by the grower, the transporter, and the retailer – and it’s a safe bet that none of these are based in your local area. Growers in your region don’t down tool out of season; they’ll be churning out fruit and veg all year round. By buying what they produce, you’ll constantly be feeding the profits back into your own community.

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It’s Good For The Planet:

As we truck in produce from other areas, it requires gas to get the produce to the store. This fuel charge is something often added to the price of the food upon delivery, not to mention what this does to the carbon footprint.
Be it by plane, train or automobile – when food has to come a long way to get to you, it comes with a carbon footprint. Of course, every orange you buy has had a journey to get to store – but it’s a safe bet that the apple that’s come from a farm 150 km away as it’s in season here, compared with one that’s had to come from the US has had a more environmentally-friendly and sustainable trip.

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It’s Exciting:

When you make a concerted effort to eating seasonal food, you’ll find yourself introduced to foods and dishes that you may not have considered before. It’s often said that imitation is the key to creativity; who knows what meals you might end up rustling up. As the seasons change, you’ll get plenty of variety in your diet too

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How can I Eat Seasonally?

Working out what’s seasonal in your area is easier than you think. Keep an eye on prices in the supermarkets – if they’re falling it’s a good sign that that food is coming into the season, while high prices suggest it’s out of season.
Farmers’ markets are a great way to get your hands on quality local produce. You’ll be buying directly from your area, and there’s usually bargains to be found.

Eating Seasonal Food is a way in which we can all be more mindful consumers, nutritionally aware and contribute to the natural agricultural cycle. So, put on your chef hat and start whipping up some seasonally delicious dishes at home.

Recommended Reads:

6 Great Benefits of Eating What’s in Season

Benefits of Eating Seasonally