What's In What's Out? Get Up To Speed With The Seasonal Produce Calendar
Eating a diet consisting of locally and seasonal foods has a whole host of benefits, not only for our bodies but also for our planet.
When fruit and vegetables are imported from countries halfway across the world, they have a significant impact on the planet and the result is often a more expensive, less nutritious and (usually) less tasty piece of food. Produce that is grown off-season is more likely to contain pesticides and be wrapped in plastic, both of which diminish the nutritional value of the produce. The transportation, refrigeration and storage of the goods also generates high levels of greenhouse gases.
By buying local and seasonal produce we are supporting local communities, consuming fresher, better quality food and reducing the food waste of goods that gets spoiled in transit.
September
VEG
artichoke, aubergine, beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, cabbage – red; sweetheart; white, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, courgettes, cucumber, fennel, French beans, garlic, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mangetout, marrow, wild mushrooms, onions, Pak choi, parsnips, peas, peppers, potatoes, pumpkin, radishes, rhubarb, rocket, runner beans, samphire, shallots, sorrel, spinach, spring greens, spring onions, summer squash, sweetcorn, Swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips, watercress.
FRUIT
apples, bilberries, blackberries, chestnuts, cobnuts, damsons, elderberries, pears, plums, raspberries, redcurrants, strawberries.
FLAVOURINGS
chillies, chicory, chives, coriander, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme.
October
VEG
artichoke, aubergine, beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, cabbage – red; savoy; sweetheart; white, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, courgette, cucumber, fennel, garlic, horseradish, Jerusalem artichokes, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, marrow, wild mushrooms, onions, parsnips, peas, potatoes, pumpkin, radishes, rocket, runner beans, salsify, shallots, sorrel, spinach, spring greens, spring onions, summer squash, swede, Swiss chard, sweetcorn, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, winter squash.
FRUIT
apples, blackberries, chestnuts, elderberries, pears.
FLAVOURINGS
chicory, chillies, chives, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme.
November
VEG
artichoke, beetroot, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, cabbage – red; savoy; white, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, horseradish, Jerusalem artichokes, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, wild mushrooms, onions, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkin, salsify, shallots, swede, Swiss chard, turnips, watercress, winter squash.
FRUIT
apples, chestnuts, cobnuts, cranberries, elderberries, pears, quince.
FLAVOURINGS
chicory, rosemary, sage.
December
VEG
beetroot, Brussels sprouts, cabbage – red; savoy; white, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, horseradish, Jerusalem artichokes, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, mushrooms – cultivated & wild, onions, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkin, salsify, shallots, swede, Swiss chard, turnips, watercress, winter squash.
FRUIT
apples, chestnuts, cranberries, pears, quince.
FLAVOURINGS
Chicory.
January
VEG
beetroot, Brussels sprouts, cabbage – red; savoy; white, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, horseradish, Jerusalem artichokes, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, potatoes, rhubarb, salsify, shallots, spring greens, spring onions, squash, swede, turnips.
FRUIT
apples, pears.
FLAVOURINGS
Chicory.
February
VEG
beetroot, purple sprouting broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage – red; savoy; white, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, Jerusalem artichokes, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, potatoes, rhubarb, salsify, shallots, spring greens, spring onions, squash, swede, turnips.
FRUIT
apples, pears.
FLAVOURINGS
Chicory.
March
VEG
artichoke, beetroot, purple sprouting broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, cucumber, wild garlic, kale, leeks, wild nettles, parsnip, radishes, rhubarb, salsify, sorrel, spinach, spring greens, spring onions, swede, watercress.
FLAVOURINGS
Chicory.
April
VEG
artichoke, asparagus, basil, beetroot, broccoli, purple sprouting broccoli, carrots, wild garlic, kale, lettuce, morel mushrooms, wild nettles, new potatoes, parsnips, radishes, rhubarb, rocket, samphire, sorrel, spinach, spring greens, spring onions, watercress.
FLAVOURINGS
chicory, chives, dill.
May
VEG
artichoke, asparagus, aubergine, beetroot, broccoli, sweetheart cabbage, carrots, wild garlic, jersey royal potatoes, lettuce, wild nettles, new potatoes, peas, peppers, radishes, rhubarb, rocket, samphire, sorrel, spinach, spring greens, spring onions, watercress.
FRUIT
strawberries.
FLAVOURINGS
basil, chervil, chicory, chillies, chives, coriander, dill, elderflower, mint, nasturtium, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon.
June
VEG
artichoke, asparagus, aubergine, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, sweetheart cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, courgettes, cucumber, fennel, French beans, garlic, kohlrabi, lettuce, mangetout, marrow, wild nettles, new potatoes, onions, Pak choi, peas, peppers, radishes, rhubarb, rocket, runner beans, samphire, sorrel, spinach, spring greens, spring onions, summer squash, Swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips, watercress.
FRUIT
apricots, bilberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, cherries, gooseberries, greengages, raspberries, redcurrants, strawberries, tayberries.
FLAVOURINGS
basil, chervil, chicory, chillies, chives, coriander, dill, elderflower, mint, nasturtium, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme.
July
VEG
artichoke, aubergine, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, cabbage – sweetheart; white, carrots, cauliflower, chillies, courgettes, cucumber, fennel, French beans, garlic, kohlrabi, lettuce, mangetout, wild nettles, new potatoes, onions, Pak choi, peas, potatoes, radishes, rhubarb, rocket, runner beans, samphire, shallots, sorrel, spinach, spring greens, spring onions, summer squash, sweetcorn, Swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips, watercress.
FRUIT
apricots, bilberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, cherries, gooseberries, greengages, loganberries, raspberries, redcurrants, strawberries.
FLAVOURINGS
basil, chervil, chicory, chillies, chives, coriander, dill, elderflower, mint, nasturtium, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme.
August
VEG
artichoke, aubergine, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, cabbage – sweetheart; white, carrots, cauliflower, courgettes, cucumber, fennel, French beans, garlic, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mangetout, marrow, mushrooms – cultivated & wild, onions, Pak choi, parsnips, peas, peppers, potatoes (maincrop), pumpkin, radishes, rhubarb, rocket, runner beans, samphire, shallots, sorrel, spring greens, spring onions, summer squash, sweetcorn, Swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips, watercress.
FRUIT
apricots, bilberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, cherries, damsons, greengages, loganberries, plums, raspberries, redcurrants, strawberries.
FLAVOURINGS
basil, chillies, chives, coriander, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme.
Written by Rebecca Jackson, Stories Behind Things