Winter tomato consumption is an irrational practice that harms the environment.
In a bid to maintain a plant-based diet while minimizing environmental impact and promoting seasonal eating, several strategies can be employed.
**1. Prioritize Seasonal and Locally Grown Produce**
Eating fruits and vegetables that are in season locally reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation and storage. Seasonal produce tends to be fresher, cheaper, and requires fewer artificial inputs like heating or refrigeration. Growing your own vegetables, if possible, in home gardens or allotments is very efficient environmentally, especially if done without artificial heating or chemical fertilizers.
**2. Focus on Diverse Plant-Based Foods**
Incorporate a variety of plant proteins such as beans, lentils, tofu, and oats, which are staples of a plant-based diet and are increasingly popular in the UK as alternatives to animal products. Encourage consumption of pulses, wholegrains, and vegetables, which are not only healthier but also have a lower environmental impact compared to animal-based foods.
**3. Support Government and Community Initiatives**
The Vegan Society and other groups are pushing for government action to make plant-based foods more accessible, affordable, and attractive, including public education on cooking and growing plant foods. Supporting or engaging with such initiatives can facilitate wider adoption of sustainable plant-based diets. Mandatory reporting by supermarkets on plant protein sales and fruit and vegetable availability is being advocated to promote transparency and encourage supply chain shifts.
**4. Adopt a Seasonal Growing Calendar**
Utilize UK seasonal growing knowledge to maximize fresh produce availability year-round. For example, beans, carrots, chard, leeks, and tomatoes are best grown between specific months to limit reliance on imports and reduce environmental costs.
By combining seasonal eating, local sourcing, diverse plant protein intake, and supportive policies, individuals in the UK can maintain a sustainable plant-based diet that promotes better health and reduces environmental impact.
However, challenges such as unpredictable weather patterns and trade barriers pose significant hurdles for growers. The use of heated glass to grow out-of-season tomatoes in the UK, for instance, has a carbon footprint that is ten times larger than tomatoes trucked from southern Spain or Italy.
Despite advocating for seasonal eating, the author admits to consuming cucumbers and peppers in March, which are not typically grown in the UK. Alternatives such as corn salad, winter purslane, and a host of oriental greens can provide a variety for those who don't prefer sweet flavors. Celeriac can replace celery, and purple sprouting can replace broccoli.
The author's company, Riverford, sells nothing from heated glass or anything that has been on an airplane. The author imports certain vegetables from Spain to maintain their diet, including peas, beans, lettuce, and occasional asparagus. The UK-only veg box offered by the author is selling better than ever, though still less than 5% of total sales.
References:
[1] Vegan Society (2021). 'The Vegan Diet: A Guide to Eating Well'. The Vegan Society. [2] Defra (2020). 'UK Horticulture: A Sustainable Future'. Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. [3] Vegan Nutrition Society (2021). 'Nutrition and Health'. Vegan Nutrition Society. [4] Riverford (2021). 'Seasonal Veg Boxes'. Riverford Organic Farmers. [5] The Vegan Society (2020). 'Policy Briefing: Plant-based Foods'. The Vegan Society.
- Landscape architects could design gardens that incorporate varied plant-based foods, promoting seasonal eating and reducing carbon footprints.
- By adopting a diverse plant-based lifestyle, one can embrace health-and-wellness benefits while minimizing the impact of climate-change on the environment.
- In environmental-science circles, the growth of home gardens and allotments is being advocated as a means to promote sustainability in food-and-drink production.
- Lifestyle trends are shifting towards supporting government initiatives aimed at increasing the availability and affordability of plant-based food options, further promoting a healthier and more sustainable environment.
