Buy local and seasonal food
Locally produced food grown in sync with the seasons is fresher and requires less energy to produce and transport to you.
Eating local and seasonal food supports local producers and the production of crops that are appropriate to our environment. It alleviates the reliance on long-distance transport and refrigeration of foods that are grown thousands of kilometres away. Foods grown in sync with the seasons are more in tune with our intuitive nutritional needs; after all, who wants a cucumber sandwich in the middle of winter?
How to do it now!
Buy and eat local and seasonal food!
Farmers markets are a great place to buy locally produced food and a directory is available from the Australian Farmers' Markets Association or the contact Council for information on local growers and markets.
Foods in season throughout the year.
|
Summer
|
Autumn
|
Winter
|
Spring
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Apricots | Avocado (Fuerte) | Beetroots | Asparagus |
| Beans | Cabbage (and Brussels Sprouts) | Broccoli | Avocado (Hass) |
| Berries and Currants | Cauliflower | Cabbage (and Brussels Sprouts) | Beetroots |
| Celery | Celery | Cauliflowers | Berries and Currants |
| Cherries | Chestnuts | Celery | Broccoli |
| Corn | Cumquats | Cumquats | Cabbage (and Brussels Sprouts) |
| Cucumber | Figs | Fennel | Corn |
| Eggplants | Ginger | Ginger | Cucumbers |
| Figs | Leeks | Jerusalem Artichokes | Fennel |
| Green pea | Melons | Lemons and Limes | Green, Snap and Snow Peas |
| Leeks | Olives | Olives | Leeks |
| Melon | Parsnips | Parsnips | Lemon & Lime |
| Pears | Pears | Rhubarb | Peppers & Chillies |
| Peppers (and Chillies) | Quinces | Sweet Potatoes | Rhubarb |
| Tomatoes | Sweet Potatoes | Turnips and Swedes | Zucchini and Squash |
| Zucchini and Squash | Tomatoes |
(Southern Australian emphasis)
Grow your own food. The best way to eat local and seasonal food is to use your own backyard! You can have a veggie garden all year round with seasonal vegetables. (See our Grow your own food action).
Why is this action important?
Changing our eating habits is a simple way to reduce our impact on the environment, address climate change (via reduced transport and industrial energy) and support local communities and farmers. You'll support the local community, farmers and benefit from an interesting and diverse diet year round, as well as support organisations like the Australian Farmers' Markets Association, which advocate low-impact farming and produce diversity.