In collaboration with the Soil Association, and to celebrate Organic September, we take a look at the foods that are naturally available at different times of year – to help you eat them when they’re at their best; most nutritious and delicious.
But what actually is ‘seasonal food’? It’s food that is naturally ripe and ready for harvest in your local area at a certain time of year – rather than being forced, imported, or grown under artificial heat or light. When we eat organic, seasonal food, we don’t have to import foods from different climates around the world. When the latter is imported by air, the carbon footprint is far higher than if it is imported by road or sea – long-haul air freight generates 47 times as much emissions per ton-mile as ocean freight.
Eating in season, then, helps to lower our carbon footprint, and keep our food systems sustainable.
Ways to help the environment include growing some of your own fruit & veg, getting an organic veg box delivered via a local box scheme, which is also a great way to also support your local farmers who work hard to grow in harmony with nature.
From honey and meat, to eggs and dairy, there are now hundreds of organic box schemes across the UK. You can click here, to find one near you.
What to eat in summer
Vegetables
- Artichokes
- Courgettes
- Broad beans
- Aubergines
- Chard
- New potatoes
- Onions
Salads & herbs
- Spring onions
- Watercress
- Spinach
- Parsley
- Rocket
Fruit
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Gooseberries
- Cherries
- Blueberries
- Peaches
- Plums
- Blackcurrants
- Redcurrants
Sow in summer
- Salad crops: lettuce, rocket, fast-maturing radish
- Brassicas: kale, pak choi, winter & spring cabbage
- Radicchio
- Swede
- Celeriac
- Beetroot
- Leeks
- Fennel
- Carrots
- Peas (including mange tout and sugar snaps)
What to eat in autumn
Vegetables
- Root veg: parsnips, carrots, turnips, swede
- Broccoli
- Leeks
- Chard
- Courgettes
- Cabbage
- Kale
- Celery
- Peppers
- Winter squash
- Pumpkin
- Potatoes
Salads & herbs
- Onion
- Garlic
- Cucumber
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Fennel
Fruit
- Apples
- Pears
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Figs
- Plums
Sow in Autumn
- Broad beans
- Fruit trees
What to eat in winter
Vegetables
- Sprouts
- Red cabbage and savoy cabbage
- Kale
- Cauliflower
- Leeks
- Potatoes
- Parnsips
- Carrots
- Turnips
- Swedes
- Celeriac
- Jerusalem artichokes
Fruit
- Apples
- Pears
What to eat in spring
Vegetables
- Asparagus
- Purple Sprouting Broccoli
- Spring cabbage
- Cauliflower
Salads & herbs
- Spring onions
- Watercress
- Spinach
- Parsley
- Lettuce
- Radishes
Fruit
- Rhubarb
Sow in spring
- Cauliflower
- Cabbages
- Courgettes
- Beans
- Peas
- Pumpkin
- Squash
- Tomatoes
- Sweetcorn
- Peppers
- Chillies
- Carrots
- Leeks
- Beetroot
- Chard
To read the full Organic Living Guide from The Soil Association, click here.
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