With large grocery store chains constantly stocked with so many various fruits and vegetables all year long, it is often hard to remember or identify which are seasonal and which aren’t. It's becoming increasingly important, however, to be aware of what Mother Nature intended for us to eat each season. Read on to find out how the growth and distribution of 'out-of-season' produce directly contributes to global warming, as well as to find out what you can do about it.

How 'Out-of-Season' Produce Contributes to Global Warming

The main factor in making it possible for us to eat (organically- or conventionally-grown) produce out of season, (such as strawberries purchased in Nebraska in the middle of January), is hothouses and long-distance transportation.

A hothouse is usually made of cheap and environmentally unfriendly materials such as PVC pipes, fiberglass, and polycarbonate plastic, which contains BPA. Also, unless it exclusively uses solar panels to provide the artificial heat it needs to grow fruits and vegetables, a hothouse is heated with portable heaters, hot water pipes or wired-in electrical heat. If not grown locally, out-of-season fruits and vegetables are grown hundreds or even thousands of miles away (think in 'food-miles') from your supermarket, and then driven, shipped or flown in. Such long-distance traveling requires the use of gas and refrigeration, flown produce representing by far the highest level of greenhouse gas emissions that are responsible for global warming.

Eat Local

Eating seasonal is therefore inextricably linked to eating local. Depending on which state (and even part of state) you live in, you might have a broad choice of locally grown, seasonal produce, even in the middle of winter, or not.  In sunny, mild-temperate California, you can still find seasonal strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants and much more, at the end of October. But in cold Montana, apples, onions and pumpkins are the only fresh fruits and vegetables to choose from this time of year.

Find Out What's In Season

To find out what is available in your state, consult this extensive list of seasonal fruits and vegetables, conveniently put together by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).  Make sure to bookmark it!

Some of us might therefore find it more difficult to shop for fresh, local and seasonal produce but that’s when last year’s preserves come in.  If you are new to living greener and to preserving, you may have to skip this year to buy only seasonal and local. To compensate, look into making your own preserves and start gathering the supplies now, so as to enjoy next summer’s best produce in the middle of next winter.

Be An Eco-Conscious Consumer

One more piece of advice: beware of tricky advertising labels and displays. For instance, produce sold in the “seasonal” section of your local supermarket may not necessarily be in season. .. Frequently consult NRDC’s list if you are unsure.