11 Benefits of Seasonal, Local Ingredients for Healthier, Tastier Cooking

4. Smaller Carbon Footprint

Local, seasonal eating typically reduces the distance food travels and the energy used for long-term refrigeration and storage. Fewer "food miles" means less fuel burned in trucks, ships, and planes, and less energy spent keeping produce edible in transit. Organizations studying food systems note that shorter supply chains usually result in lower greenhouse gas emissions, though farming methods also matter (NRDC and USDA resources discuss these trade-offs). Choosing produce from nearby farms or buying at a local market is a simple consumer choice that supports lower-transport solutions. You can make an immediate difference by favoring vendors who sell what’s ripe nearby rather than imported out-of-season items that rely on long-haul transport and refrigeration. Even small households contribute: choosing seasonal, local items for a few meals per week reduces the overall environmental cost of your food without requiring large lifestyle changes. Combining seasonal buying with reduced meat consumption on selected days increases the impact further.