Buy Local and Seasonal Food
Locally produced food that is grown in sync with the seasons is fresher, and it doesn't take as much energy to produce it and transport it to you.
Eating local and seasonal foods supports local farmers and the production of crops that are appropriate to our local environment. This alleviates the modern reliance on the long-distance transport and refrigeration of foods that are grown thousands of kilometres away. In addition, 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 & eat local and seasonal food!
Farmers markets are the best place to buy locally produced food and a great directory is available from the Australian Farmers' Markets Association or the Melbourne Community Farmers' Markets.
Foods in season throughout the year.
| Summer | Autumn | Winter | Spring |
| Apricots | Avocado (Fuerte) | Beetroots | Asparagus |
| Beans | Cabbage (& Brussels Sprouts) | Broccoli | Avocado (Hass) |
| Berries & Currants | Cauliflower | Cabbage (& Brussels Sprouts) | Beetroots |
| Celery | Celery | Cauliflowers | Berries & currants |
| Cherries | Chestnuts | Celery | Broccoli |
| Corn | Cumquats | Cumquats | Cabbage (& Brussels Sprouts) |
| Cucumber | Figs | Fennel | Corn |
| Eggplants | Ginger | Ginger | Cucumbers |
| Figs | Leeks | Jerusalem Artichokes | Fennel |
| Green pea | Melons | Lemons & Limes | Green, Snap & Snow pea, |
| Leeks | Olives | Olives | Leeks |
| Melon | Parsnips | Parsnips | Lemon & Lime |
| Pears | Pears | Rhubarb | Peppers & chillies |
| Peppers (& Chillies) | Quinces | Sweet Potatoes | Rhubarb |
| Tomatoes | Sweet Potatoes | Turnips & swedes | Zucchini & Squash |
| Zucchini & Squash | Tomatoes |
(Southern Australian emphasis)
Grow your own food. The best way to get local and seasonal 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 this action is important?
Reconfiguring our eating habits so as to have the lightest impact on the environment is a simple way to address climate change (via reduced transport and industrial energy) and support local communities and farmers. You'll also get an interesting and diverse diet all year round! In addition, organisations like the Australian Farmers' Markets Association advocate for low-impact farming and produce diversity.