Does consuming seasonal foods benefit the environment? Insights from recent research

The profile of seasonal foods has been raised in recent years, with information about 'in-season' produce being made available to consumers through a variety of channels, including television programmes, magazine articles and websites. 'Eating seasonally' has also increasingly been encouraged by government initiatives and supported by other agencies and organisations. This article draws on findings of recent research by ADAS, EuGeos and SERIO to explore the notion of 'seasonal food' and probe the link between 'eating seasonally' and a reduction of environmental impacts in the food chain. © 2011 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2011 British Nutrition Foundation.