Why eat seasonally? 2 May 2023 Benefits of eating seasonally | Legges Seasonal foods follow the natural rhythms of the year. And in the same way the textures and shades of leaves change as the seasons transition from one to another, we all notice how the tastes and vibrancy of the foods on our plates do the same when we shop in the spring, summer, autumn and winter! What are seasonal foods? Seasonal foods such as fruits, vegetables, and other produce grow in abundance at certain times of the year, and when we eat seasonally, we’re consuming them in harmony with when they’re harvested. Spring seasonal foods… From spring lamb that’s synonymous with Easter to ruby-red rhubarb and spring onions and greens, here’s a great seasonal eating guide from Love British Food detailing what’s ready and when. There are many advantages of eating seasonal foods and for this blog we’ve handpicked just a few of them: The health benefits of seasonal foods Seasonal foods are more flavoursome and far more nutritious for us in comparison to out-of-season produce. One intrinsic reason for this dates back to our historic roots when there was no other option than to eat what was ripe and ready. Fruits, vegetables, and other produce change with the seasons as it has always been Nature’s way of nourishing our bodies with exactly what they need at differing times of the year. Take a plump British strawberry for example… Why does the first bite of one on a summer’s day taste so juicy and sumptuous? Alongside their other health benefits, strawberries are made up of approximately 91% water: perfect for helping us to stay hydrated in the heat (however much or little we get of it in the summer – here’s to hoping!). And if you happen to pick up a punnet locally, the reduced time it has taken to harvest and pop them into the shop means they’ll be fresher and packed with even more nutritional goodness, in comparison to imported strawberries you may see in January. The environmental benefits of eating seasonally When such foods are out of season, they require more energy. One significant form of energy is the transportation to get them from A to B, in addition to the refrigeration also needed etc. while they’re in transit. At Legges we believe that eating seasonally not only nourishes our bodies – it also nourishes and supports the future of our planet. When we shop seasonally here in the UK, fewer ‘food miles’ are needed to get the fruits, vegetables, and other produce from farms to our forks, and so with every bite we know we’re each making an environmental difference. Buying seasonally benefits the UK and regional economies Although purchasing out-of-season foods from abroad supports the global economy, buying what’s in season closer to home hugely benefits our UK and regional economies. Shopping and eating this way also means we can trace the exact who, where, why, when and how’s of, for example, the Jersey Royals we’re having for dinner this evening, so we know exactly what we’re eating! What seasonal goodies do you enjoy the most this time of the year? Here in our Bromyard farm shop, fresh bundles of asparagus are being unpacked by our team as we speak from our good friends at Wye Valley Produce and unsurprisingly our Butchery Team have said our Herefordshire lamb cuts are well and truly a firm favourite at the moment!
