SHOPPING SEASONALLY

If you can’t tell your winter fruits from your summer vegetables, I don’t blame you. It used to be that mangoes were a summer fruit, and turnips were a winter vegetable. Now, you can buy either of them, or any fruit or vegetable for that matter, whenever you want. Whilst having tomatoes available all year round is great for daily salad rituals, Environment Victoria reports that out-of-season produce always comes at a number of costs.

ENVIRONMENTAL COST

Truth is, if you are eating pineapples in winter, they have probably travelled thousands of kilometers by road, sea or sky in order to get to you. In fact, it has been estimated that outof- season food will travel 21,073km on average to reach shelves in Victoria for instance! The fuel emissions, refrigeration and packaging associated with these foods contribute tremendously towards greenhouse gas emissions.

QUALITY COST

Transported ‘out-of season’ produce is usually picked before fully ripened, in order to prevent spoiling along the way. This can negatively impact the quality of the produce, including the taste, aroma and colour. Have you ever noticed that tomatoes, which a seasonal in summer, appear ‘pale’, and less juicy in winter? This is why! Furthermore, the nutrient density of fresh produce starts to decline immediately after harvesting, so fruits and veggies undergoing long-transit may have a lower nutrient value. Greenhouse produce can also be similarly affected.

FINANCIAL COST

The price of fresh fruits and vegetables out-of-season is always greater. This is related to the cost of transport and/or expensive greenhouse systems. Let’s compare figs and strawberries in spring. Strawberries are in season, and you can pick up three punnets for $5 or less at every street corner! Figs, on the other hand, are hard to find at this time and must be transported hundreds or thousands of kilometers. They can cost up to $60 per kilo!

You can bypass these issues by shopping for seasonal fruit and veggies wherever you can. Not only will you be helping the environment and saving yourself some money, but the meals you create will be richer in flavour and nutrition!

BUY LOCAL

Shop at farmers markets or greengrocers. They are more likely to order and sell according to seasonal variation than supermarkets, so you won’t need to guess!

CHECK THE PRICE AND THE QUALITY

If you notice that the cost of a fruit or vegetable seems very expensive, or if the aroma or appearance seems different, it may be an ‘out-of-season’ crop.

CARRY YOUR SEASONAL GUIDES

Check out the Environment Victoria’s seasonal produce guide and recipes.

ASK FOR HELP

Ask your greengrocer what’s in season, and ask them to direct you towards the best produce in store. They might even give you some tips on storing and preparing too!

TRY NEW THINGS

Sticking to seasonal produce guides may prompt you to experiment with new ingredients and recipes, increasing your meal variety and improving your cooking skills.

Spring is a great time to start your seasonal shopping habit, as there are so many delicious and nutritious fruit and veggie options to choose from. A useful hint – search the shelves for greens, reds and purples! Some fruits to look out for include strawberries, blueberries, rhubarb and melons. For vegetables – we are excited to welcome asparagus, artichoke, eggplant, cucumbers and juicy red tomatoes!

By: Samantha Stuk, Dietitian