1. Eating With The Seasons
How to eat seasonally and help create a sustainable food system.

2. Eating With The Seasons
Have you ever thought about
how you are able to eat an
apple any time of the year
even though their harvest
season is only August through
December?
What makes that possible and what are the costs?

3. Eating Out of Season
There are a variety of externalities associated with the food we buy in a grocery store.
When buying out of season, food must travel longer distances in order to be available in grocery stores. These are called “food miles”.

4. Eating Out of Season
California is rich in agriculture, producing nearly half of the nations fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Even so, food is being imported from other states as well as overseas.
This is because food is expected to be available year round by consumers.This leads to an increased output of pollution...

5. Consequences of Food Miles
The National Resource Defence Council reported the environmental consequences resulting from importing agricultural products to be:
250,000 tons of global warming
gases-the equivalent of 40,000
cars on the road.

6. Consequences of Food Miles
More than 6,000 tons of
smog-forming nitrogen oxides-
equivalent to 1.5 million
vehicles.
300 tons of particulate matter
released into the air-equating to
1.2 million cars.
The way the food is shipped can greatly affect pollution outputs too…Planes produce 177 times more emissions than ships.

7. Consequences of Food Miles
Also, the minute food is harvested, it begins to lose its nutritional value. The longer it takes to transport a food item means an increased loss in nutrients.
Where your food could be coming from:
Bell Peppers
Netherlands
Blackberries
Chile
Blueberries
Chile, New Zealand, Argentina
Cherries

8. Take a Look at Your Groceries
You just might be
surprised...

9. Eating With The Seasons
California offers a variety of food options throughout the
year. Here’s a quick guide to your favorite foods and
their seasonal availability:
Grapes
July - November
Corn
June - October
Cherries
April - July
Peas
April - November
Cucumbers
June - November
Apricots
May - July
Asparagus
February - June

10. Benefits of Eating in Seasonal and Local
Eating local produce
helps reduce fuel
consumption and pollution.
Strengthens your local
economy.
Supports local agriculture.
You’ll be consuming more nutrient rich foods.