Eating in the Season!
There is a unique enjoyment to picking fresh apples from a blooming tree in your backyard, or roasting a potato your friend has unearthed from their own summer garden. From chatting with Kye, a local Calgarian farmer, we know eating local food in season is also highly sustainable. Eating Calgary-grown crops that are in season is a special treat, because let’s be honest, Calgary is not the greatest hub for harvesting all-year-long. This is why we love eating what is in season from our local farmers gardens while we can.
Some reasons you should be eating with the seasons:
1 - The food is more nutritious
Foods consumed when in season are much more nutrient dense and delicious, because it is harvested at its peak and has a shorter way to travel!
2 - It supports your fellow farmers
Supporting local farmers builds community, invests in your neighborhood, keeps taxes down and benefits sustainability!
3 - Food can be cheaper
When a fruit or veggie is in season, it is often available at a cheaper price than usual since it is in abundance.
*Insert picture of Peanut Potato Stew, caption: try making our peanut potato stew, which a great, delicious meal using year round ingredients*
What’s in season near here?
July through October is the general harvest season. Different crops are harvested at different times and can be stored for different lengths of time, so what you can find locally may vary. Here are some favourite fruit and veggies and approximately what time to score them in Alberta:
June and July:
- Cherries
June to August:
- Rhubarb
July and August:
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Celery
- Nectarines
- Peas
- Strawberries
Our 5 minute smoothie bowl can be made with all your favourite seasonal fruits! Check out the recipe here.
July to September:
- Beans
- Cauliflower
- Cucumbers
- Eggplant
- Peppers
- Raspberries
- Tomatoes
July to October:
- Apples
- Beets
- Greens and herbs
July to November:
- Carrots
August and September:
- Corn
Year round local foods:
Depending on harvesting methods, hothouses and hydroponic farms, you may be able to score some of these foods for most of the year in Alberta:
Tip: supporting farms from B.C. is another way to get delicious produce that is closer to home for a longer time!
We hope you are able to score some local veggies in season! Comment below what your favourites are. 😊