Are you wearing imported Produce - that was sooo last season!
The first step to healthy and sustainable eating habits is to eat fresh, local and in season. Modern technology has evolved to the point where we can have pretty much anything and everything anytime we want it - and we want it now.
Celebrities are infamous for their food demands that involve some pretty serious food miles. While it's easy to chuckle at celebrities making such outrageous requests, we as consumers are often guilty of the same vices. Consider the "fresh oranges" you're buying during summer months, most of those have been imported from the US. (13000 km). Meanwhile, Australia imported $85 million of Chinese fruit and vegetables alone in 2007, most of which was frozen or canned, which has raised fears of contamination from the recent melamine scare.
It's important for us, who are already blessed with great climate for agriculture, should keep it in our minds to buy fruit and veggies when they're in season. Not only do they tend to be cheaper because of reduced transport and refrigeration costs, but buying in season means your produce is fresh, local and better for the environment.
So just what should you buy and when?
In season Fruit Guide
Australia is blessed in that many of our favourite fruits and veggies are actually available year round. Fruits like bananas and oranges are available most of the year. Berries tend to peak in December/January, along with most stone fruits. And of course, summer is the perfect time to dive into a ripe and juicy watermelon. When picking fruit, firmness and colour are usually the best determinants. Too firm and it's probably not ripe enough - too soft and it's probably about to spoil.
In season Veggie Guide
In Australia, we have quite a wide variety of fresh veggies to choose from. The classic staples, bean shoots, mushrooms and broccoli are available throughout the year. When picking green leafy veggies, examine the colour of the leaves, you want a darker and rich shade of green. Try snapping a leaf to test its crispness, if you hear a definite snapping sound, you've got a fresh bunch.
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