AppLink Apps
Seasonal Food Guide
The Seasonal Food Guide is a comprehensive digital almanac that provides information on over 140 types of fruits, veggies, legumes, nuts, and herbs. With this guide, users can easily search for what produce is in season at any time of year in each of the 50 states. It also allows users to find out when their favorite produce is at peak freshness and taste. The guide includes features such as setting shopping reminders and never missing a seasonal food again. It also provides links to recipes, fun facts, and information about the environmental impact of growing each type of produce. The data sources used for this guide are the Natural Resources Defense Council, USDA, state agriculture extension offices, and state departments of agriculture. The seasonality data is accurate to half-month increments. This free resource was developed by a nonprofit.
Seasonal food refers to produce that is purchased and consumed around the time of its harvest. It is important to eat food that is in season because studies suggest that it can be fresher, tastier, and more nutritious compared to out-of-season food. Seasonal fruits and vegetables from local farms are often fresher and more flavorful due to shorter transport distances. Additionally, crops picked at their peak ripeness are known to have better flavor. Fruits and vegetables allowed to ripen naturally on their parent plants also tend to have higher nutrient content.
Eating locally produced food has several benefits. Buying local food supports local farms and helps the environment, with direct-to-consumer producers typically using fewer pesticides and herbicides compared to conventional producers. Supporting local farmers also strengthens the community by generating jobs and stimulating the local economy. Another advantage of buying directly from farmers is the opportunity to learn about their farming practices and enhance transparency in the food supply chain.
The Seasonal Food Guide is a project of the GRACE Communications Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises awareness about the environmental and public health issues related to the industrial food system. For any questions or suggestions regarding the Seasonal Food Guide, users can contact [email protected].