Lovely veg

Any idea when courgettes come into season? How about cucumbers? No? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. 

Research shows that most people aren’t sure when British fruit and vegetables are in season, which is a real shame as it means they’re missing out on something special.

The Eat Seasonably campaign has been set up to help everybody enjoy fruit and veg in its prime. To make it really simple the campaign and its partners celebrate just two or three ‘hero’ fruit and vegetables each month. Big supermarkets and small market traders alike are getting involved, as well as cafes, pubs, restaurants and some of the nation’s favourite charities.

Ask any chef and they’ll tell you that fruit and veg are at their freshest and tastiest when they’ve just been picked, so why settle for sickly looking strawberries in winter or unappetising asparagus in August?

Ask any chef and they’ll tell you that fruit and veg are at their freshest and tastiest when they’ve just been picked

Eating seasonably is a great way to start eating more sustainably. Growing fruit and veg in season requires lower levels of heating, lighting, pesticides and fertilisers, giving your meals a lower environmental impact.

A nice way to see when food is in season

With reduced transportation and production costs for the producers, seasonal fruit and veg will have less of an impact on your grocery bills too. When produce is in season it is more abundant, and this also helps to keep the price down. 

A basket of fruit and veg bought in season can be as much as a third cheaper than the same basket bought out of season.

The ultimate way of reconnecting with your food is to actually try growing it. It’s not as hard as you might think and you don’t even need a garden – some outside space or even a sunny windowsill will do. A great place to start is Eat Seasonably’s list of the ‘Top ten easiest fruit and veg to grow’, each with step-by-step instructions.

A basket of fruit and veg bought in season can be as much as a third cheaper than the same basket bought out of season.

Try eating seasonably to experience the joy of eating fruit and vegetables at their peak of perfection: better tasting, better value and better for the planet.

To find out which fruit and veg are at their best right now, plus tips, recipes, events and to find somewhere to eat seasonably in your local area visit www.eatseasonably.co.uk