Seasonal Eating: The Big Picture by Kamila Janik

​Food is something we eat every day and enjoy, but do we ever think about why we have the same foods year-round? Fruits and vegetables can only grow in certain seasons and importing them from different countries makes a dramatic impact on our environment. 

​https://www.fginsight.com/news/soil-damage-could-make-parts-of-east-anglia-unprofitable-4479

Why it matters:

• Monocropping
  • The practice of growing the same crop on the same soil continuously, depleting the soil of nutrients (Foodprint, 2019).
  • Common crops for industrial agriculture (IA): soy, corn, wheat
  • IA negatively impacts soil health and consequently releases carbon

 

• Carbon Farming = solution to monocropping because soil holds a tremendous amount of carbon àcomposting increases the amount of carbon stored in grassland and cropland soils that, in return, increase productivity of crop production as well as water retention
  • Land management that involves practices to remove CO2 from atmosphere and sequester carbon from the organic matter in the soil (Carbon Cycle Institute, 2019).
  • Benefits include improving soil health, increased water retention, biodiversity and resilience

                                                 https://civileats.com/2013/01/14/what-makes-a-good-farmers-market/

​Climate change is a conversation we’ve been having for decades so it’s imperative to keep in mind what you’re doing on an individual level. A primary thing to be conscious of when shopping for food, your dollars matter! Meaning, whatever you decide to purchase has a purpose, lineage, a vote. So, if you buy in bulk, local and plant based you are supporting farmers who grow food near you and therefore reduce cost in transportation and fossil fuels. Farmer's markets are a great source to get a glimpse of your local produce and to get involved in your community. 

​                                                                      https://www.uncovercolorado.com/gardening-in-colorado/

​You can also learn to grow food in your own backyard! Gardening is therapeutic and fun to do once you get into the swing of things. You get to go outside, enjoy the sunshine and gain a deeper appreciation of how food gets on your table. Additionally, it benefits your health when you eat food that is at the peak of its harvest because it has the optimal vitamin and minerals inside it. 

​Knowing what fruits and vegetables are in season allow you the opportunity to be exposed to foods that you haven’t seen in typical grocery stores. You acquire new vegetable preferences and your dietary patterns expand and encourage community-supported agriculture (Wilkins, 2015).
​
Since we are approaching the winter season, there are many fruits and vegetables to keep an eye out for:

• Artichokes, Asian pears, Brussel sprouts, bok choy, lemons, mustard greens, nopales, persimmons, radicchio, radishes, spinach, spinach, sweet potatoes and so much more

 
If you’re in the SF/Bay area, a great place to support local agriculture is any farmer’s market in your area. If you are seeking to get the full farm experience, check out Alemany Farms in San Francisco to see all the produce listed growing above and get a chance to volunteer and get your hands dirty!
 

References:​

1. FoodPrint. (2019). “How Industrial Agriculture Affects Our Soil”. Retrieved from https://foodprint.org/issues/how-industrial-agriculture-affects-our-soil/
2. Carbon Cycle Institute. (2019). “Carbon Farming”. Retrieved from https://www.carboncycle.org/carbon-farming/
3. Wolfram, Taylor. (February, 2019). Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.“Sustainable Eating”. Retrieved from https://www.eatright.org/health/lifestyle/culture-and-traditions/sustainable-eating
4. Seasonal Food Guide. (n.d). “What’s in season near you: California, late November”. https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org
5. Wilkins, JL. Farrell, TJ. Rangarajan, A. (September 2015). “Linking vegetable preferences, health
   and local food systems through community-supported agriculture”. Retrieved from      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25824468