How does seasonal food affect the environment?
Global seasonality has the nutritional benefit of providing a more varied and consistent supply of fresh produce year round, but this increases demand for foods that in turn can have a high environmental cost in the country of production (e.g. water stress, land use change with loss of biodiversity).
Will eating seasonal food contribute to health and environmental sustainability?
Eating seasonally eliminates those transport and storage environmental costs, says accredited practising dietitian Gabrielle O’Kane. That’s because you’re consuming ripe, locally picked food that hasn’t been stored for a long time.
What are the benefits of eating seasonal food?
Here are the many benefits to eating seasonally! In-season produce is fresher and tastes better, sweeter and perfectly ripe. When fruits and vegetables are picked for consumption that have been naturally ripened on the vine or the tree and harvested at the right time, it will have much more flavor and nutrition.
What are the disadvantages of eating seasonal foods?
The cons…
- Increased food miles – If you want to eat only seasonal produce, you could end up increasing your food miles by eating imported food.
- Food shortages – At certain times of the year, there could be food shortages, or shortages of a particular product, especially if preservation is not possible.
Does consuming seasonal foods benefit the environment insights from recent research?
Local seasonal food choices are environmentally relevant behaviors and a promising opportunity for enhancing sustainable food consumption. While local seasonal food provides environmental benefits to consumers, these benefits have no implications for the relevance of environmental motives.
Why is seasonal food better for the environment?
These have environmental benefits because they use less energy for artificial heating or lighting, for refrigeration and storage and avoid losses during storage, which generally helps to produce less GHG emissions, compared to fruit and vegetables that are grown under protection, are imported or stored.
Why is seasonal produce more healthy?
They are extremely beneficial to our health – they function as antioxidants, help detoxification, and can reduce DNA damage. Food that hasn’t been sprayed with pesticides, chemicals and preservatives often have higher phytochemical levels because they have to protect themselves in their environment.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of eating seasonal foods?
Seasonal Eating Pros and Cons
- Food is More Fresh and Tasty.
- Better for Your Health.
- Produce isn’t Covered in Wax or Preservatives.
- Supports the Local Economy and Ecology.
- Food Diversity.
- You Can Learn New Skills.
- Makes You Look Forward to the Seasons and the Foods They Provide.
- Your Eyes Are Bigger than Your Cupboard.
How is seasonal produce beneficial good for the environment?
It simply means you choose food that’s grown locally. Locally grown, seasonal food has the biggest benefit for the planet, as it takes less resources to transport and store your food. Did you know transporting food by air generates 177 times more greenhouse gases than shipping it?
Why should we eat local seasonal and Colourful food?
By eating local, seasonal foods you can help reduce the environmental costs associated with your food. Local produce is more likely to be ripened on the farm before being harvested and delivered. This food is fresher, tastes better and is more nutritious.
Is seasonal produce healthier?
It is encouraged to try to eat fruits and vegetables when they are grown seasonally, rather than all year round. This is because local seasonal produce is typically more nutritious, fresher and more cost-effective.
Why eat seasonal food?
Here’s some of the reasons we think you should keep it local and eat seasonal. Food that has travelled across the world to get to your plate has a much higher impact on our environment. More energy is needed to transport, refrigerate and store it and often, more packaging is needed to keep it fresh.
How does food travel affect the environment?
Food that has travelled across the world to get to your plate has a much higher impact on our environment. More energy is needed to transport, refrigerate and store it and often, more packaging is needed to keep it fresh. By eating local, seasonal foods you can help reduce the environmental costs associated with your food.
Do seasonal fruits and vegetables have environmental benefits?
The environmental benefits of seasonal fruit and vegetables are often attributed to the shorter distances they travel.
What does ‘seasonal’ mean?
For some, ‘seasonal’ is synonymous with foods harvested ‘locally’, for others it is closely connected to cultural events and for a third group, it involves reconnecting with the origins of the foods and learning about the natural growing seasons.