Food: Low Energy Storage, Local, In Season

Hello Readers,

I recently came across an article from TreeHugger about storing produce without using plastic containers. At the bottom of the article, they included a Youtube video:



The video is from a website: http://www.savefoodfromthefridge.com/, which features several tips for storing food without using the a refrigerator (or electricity). In fact, it seems like some of the tips allow the food to keep better for even longer.

Of course, what is the point of storing food without using electricity, if it has already been shipped from a thousand miles away or more? Here are a few websites that can help you figure out what food is in season in your area:

• Epicurious' Seasonal Ingredient Map - This website has a map of the United States with some of the fruits and vegetables that are in season each month in each state. The map does not appear to be entirely complete, but each state will list up to ten in-season fruits and vegetables per state per month at a time.
• NRDC's Smarter Living "Eat Local" Page - This website seems to have a more comprehensive list of what is in-season. The map of the US can be filtered by the early and late parts of any month, and when a state is selected you are given a full list of the produce throughout the year. Also, there is a tab that allows you to find nearby farmer's markets and an option to download an iPhone app.
• Eat the Seasons UK Website - This appears to be a fairly comprehensive list of the in-season food in the UK and Ireland, including fruits, vegetables, and meat/fish. It offers an in-season 'food of the week' and denotes foods that are imported. In some cases, the foods contain links to lengthy descriptions, including history, nutrition, tips and recipes. This website has a US/Canada version, but it generalizes for the entire continent and many of the links do not seem to function.
• Local Harvest - This is perhaps the best known and most comprehensive website about local and in-season foods. Users can search for CSAs, Farmer's Markets, and even buy in-season food from the website. If you are looking for where to buy food, this is a great website; however, if you just want to know what is in-season in your state from a quick online-only search, this website may not be for you.

Good Luck,

Sean Diamond