As spring arrives, it's the perfect time to enjoy fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables, which are more nutritious, flavourful, and eco-friendly. Lia Willis, a member of the Green Impact Team, highlights the benefits of eating in-season produce and offers practical tips for incorporating it into your diet while supporting local communities and reducing your carbon footprint.
Now that Spring is here, it’s a perfect time to freshen up our plates with sustainable, in-season fruit and vegetables! We all know that fruit and vegetables are good for us, providing us with essential vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibre1. Choosing fruit and veg that are currently in season can offer even greater benefits, both for our own wellbeing and the health of the planet.
What does ‘seasonal’ fruit & vegetables actually mean?
Different fruit and vegetables require their own specific set of conditions for ideal growth including climate, temperature and soil conditions2; this is why they are grown in different locations and seasons throughout the year. Modern technology means we can access a really wide variety of fruit and vegetables all year round, even when out of season. Choosing in-season produce means it is grown and harvested at the same time of year - and ideally in the same region – as where you live.
What are the benefits?
- Better for the planet: Seasonal produce requires less energy to grow and avoids the high carbon footprint of air-freighted imports2
- More nutritious: the nutritional value of fruit and vegetables are highest immediately after harvesting3. Eating them in-season means they will be at their freshest and most nutritious!
- Tastes better: Seasonal produce is often fresher and picked at peak ripeness, meaning better flavour and texture4
- Saves you money: In-season produce is usually more plentiful and cheaper to grow and transport, meaning lower prices for you5
- Supports local communities: Buying local, seasonal produce helps keep profits within your local community instead of going to importers and large retailers
- Adds excitement and variety to meals: Seasonal eating keeps things fresh, fun, and adventurous, helping you discover new ingredients and recipes all year round!
How can I get started?
Identifying whether a fruit or vegetable is in season, where it was grown, or how it was transported can be tricky. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
- Familiarise yourself with UK seasonal produce: Check out this month-by-month guide: Seasonal UK Grown Produce - Vegetarian Society
- Add more seasonal produce to your diet: Need recipe inspiration? Check out BBC good food for seasonal ideas: Seasonal recipe ideas | Good Food
- Shop locally: Support your community by shopping at farmer’s markets
- Grow your own: Start your own fruit and veggie garden!
- Join a seasonal eating group: Find local or online groups for support, tips, and inspiration
References
1. Why 5 A Day? - NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/5-a-day/why-5-a-day/.
2. Are seasonal fruit and vegetables better for the environment? | Eufic. https://www.eufic.org/en/healthy-living/article/are-seasonal-fruit-and-vegetables-better-for-the-environment.
3. Macdiarmid, J. I. Seasonality and dietary requirements: will eating seasonal food contribute to health and environmental sustainability? Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 73, 368–375 (2014).
4. Eating Seasonal Foods - Seasonal Fruits & Vegetables Benefits | Holland & Barrett. https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/the-health-hub/food-drink/nutrition/eating-seasonally/?msockid=28d123671899631f20ae362119be62de#skip-2.
5. Why eat seasonally? | Consumer Council. https://www.consumercouncil.org.uk/news/why-eat-seasonally.