Consuming plant-based foods is a great way to cut down on your personal carbon footprint, but it’s not the only strategy available to make your meals more sustainable. Eating locally and seasonally cuts down on the transportation emissions from the food you eat and supports local growers practicing regenerative farming. Plus, eating seasonally reduces the energy, pesticides, and fertilizers required to grow fruits and vegetables outside their growing season.
The Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Crop Calendar
This resource, originally published by the Mexican Agri-food and Fishery Information Service, provides seasonality information on foundational crops like wheat, rice, maize, and soybeans around the world.
Cuerpomente Seasonal Calendar
This Spanish guide has a seasonal calendar specifically for fruits and vegetables grown in Spain.
Das Bundeszentrum für Ernährung (BZfE) – Germany’s Seasonal Calendar
If you’re based in Germany, this calendar provides seasonal produce information for most of central and northern Europe.
Eat Seasonably UK
This food sustainability initiative offers a seasonality calendar as well as information on when to plant your own garden for optimal yield.
FAO Ethiopia Crop Calendar
This calendar provides information on seasonal crops in Ethiopia as well as vegetation and precipitation indicators and threats to crops.
FAO’s Searchable Crop Calendar Database
This resource is great for users around the world as it provides a searchable database for different crops and countries. It has data on 44 countries and more than 130 different types of crops, so it can answer almost any questions you may have on eating seasonally in your region.
The FoodPrint Seasonal Food Guide
For US-based readers, this guide allows you to search by produce type and region to discover seasonality information on more than 140 different fruits, veggies, legumes, nuts, and herbs.
Harvest – Select the Best Produce
In addition to letting you know what is in season, this app also tells you how to spot the freshest, ripest, healthiest, and best-tasting produce based on visual cues.
El Libro Sabio de Las Frutas y Las Verduras
This Spanish guide, published by the government, offers detailed information on 24 fruits and 29 vegetables grown in Spain. If you don’t live in Spain, this could still provide a blueprint for what to eat on your next vacation!
LocalHarvest’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), Farms, and Farmers Markets National Directory
This guide not only provides seasonal options but also where to find them. Search by location and find all the farmer’s markets and CSA options near you.
“Por Precio y Sabor, Prefiera Frutas y Verduras de Estación” Campaign
This Chilean campaign translates to “For Price and Flavor, Choose Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables.” It offers seasonal produce divided up by the four geographic regions of Chile.
SeasonEats
This resource is great for UK and US shoppers who can easily use the app to look up produce options on the go.
South Africa Seasonal Calendar
This beautifully illustrated guide provides information on seasonal produce as well as the 54 different types of produce grown in South Africa.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) Seasonal Produce Guide
This food equity program expands upon their food access services with information about seasonality and locally available food options.
Union Fresh’s Seasonal Charts
If you’re reading this from Thailand, this guide is based in the Chiang Mai Province and offers a seasonal resource for Thai vegetables and tropical fruits for locals and vacationers alike.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Farmers Market Directory
Shopping from a farmer’s market is one of the easiest ways to ensure you’re shopping local and seasonal. This directory will point you to the closest market in your area.
