Why Seasonal Eating Matters

When I started baking, I didn’t think much about where ingredients came from. I just wanted cookies that were allergy conscious so my whole household could enjoy them. But the more I’ve learned about food justice, the more I’ve realized that when and where food grows is just as important as what we eat.

So... what is Seasonal Eating?

Seasonal eating means choosing fruits and vegetables that are naturally growing at that time of year, in your region. For example: strawberries in summer, apples in fall, root vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes in winter, and leafy greens in spring. It’s how people ate for most of history, before grocery stores made it possible to buy strawberries in December and watermelon in February.

And why does it matter?

Seasonal eating is important for many reasons. Here are just a few:

• Flavor and nutrition: Foods that are in season are fresher, travel fewer miles, and usually taste better. (If you’ve ever bitten into a grocery store tomato in January and thought it tasted like nothing, that’s why.) Seasonal produce is also higher in vitamins since it doesn’t sit in storage as long.

• Environmental impact: Eating seasonally can reduce the carbon footprint of your food. Importing blueberries from South America in the middle of winter means more fossil fuels used for shipping. Choosing local, seasonal foods supports farmers in your community and helps cut down on emissions.

• Affordability: Seasonal foods are usually cheaper because they’re abundant. Think about how cheap pumpkins get in October versus July... and can you even really FIND pumpkins in July?

  
  

What Seasonal eating and Food Equity Have in Common:

Here’s the part that inspires me most: eating seasonally isn’t just trendy, it’s also a justice issue. Communities that struggle with food insecurity often don’t get access to the fresh, local produce that’s grown right near them. Instead, they’re left with processed foods or expensive, out-of-season items. By supporting local farms and food recovery programs, we can help close that gap and make sure everyone has access to real, nourishing food. Here's how to start:

• Check your local farmer’s market or CSA (community supported agriculture) program to see what’s in season.

• Learn one or two simple recipes for each season—like roasted squash in fall or fresh fruit salads in summer.

• If you can’t access local farms, even just noticing which fruits and veggies are cheaper and fresher in the store is a great start.

As someone who started out baking allergy-friendly cookies, I’ve seen how food connects us. Seasonal eating is one way to stay connected, not just to our health, but also to our communities, the planet, and the traditions of cooking that remind us food is meant to nourish and bring people together.

So the next time you’re at the store, think about this: do you want strawberries that taste like cardboard, or the kind that taste like summer?