Easy on the Unseasonal

Runner beans in December, lamb chops in January, strawberries in November all undoubtedly tasty foods, but not really so tasty for the environment. Because those runners, they didn't actually run over here; and the lamb, it didn't spring its way to your table.

Foods that are out of season have to be transported from other countries by boat, air and road. The food we eat in the UK clocks up an astounding 30 billion km a year. That's the equivalent of sending our meals round the earth 750,000 times - and it creates 19 million tonnes of CO2 every year.

And food in season not only tastes better, it's much more plentiful and a darn sight cheaper.

• Eat Seasonably keeps you up-to-date with this season's must-eat local foods, with info and recipes on what to do with them.
• Eat The Seasons is a more in-depth resource for those further along the seasonal eating road.
• Explore what's on your doorstep. Big Barn lets you search for local food in the UK, pointing you in the direction of farmers' markets, fishmongers and even those nice pick-your-own strawberry places.
• London-based farmers' market fans should try this site, or this one.
• For those on the other side of the pond, Eat Well shows you how to eat local in the US and Canada.
• And if you're from the US, you should definitely get involved in Community Supported Agriculture.

More info from the Green Thing wiki >>

Here's a thing...long journeys take it out of you - and out of your food. The number of nutrients in your nosh drops for every kilometre it has to travel. So eating food out-of-season is not just passé, it's actually worse for you.

Find out more abut the food you eat. Like, here are 13 things you probably didn't know about cucumbers. A 14th thing about cucumbers: when they are out of season, you can pickle them!