Eating locally means eating seasonally. Here in the Midwest that means asparagus in the spring and early summer, not the dead of winter.

To steal an excerpt from Sustainable Table, “By purchasing local foods in-season, you eliminate the environmental damage caused by shipping foods thousands of miles, your food dollar goes directly to the farmer, and your family will be able to enjoy the health benefits of eating fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables. Buying seasonal produce also provides an exciting opportunity to try new foods and to experiment with seasonal recipes. And it simply tastes better!”

Hey, tasty food is why we’re food bloggers, right?

Knowing what’s in season can be challenging, but there are many resources available to help.

• AgriMissouri, a division of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, has a fruits and vegetables harvest calendar that shows which fruits and vegetables are available each season. For those not in Missouri, I suggest checking with your state’s Department of Agriculture as I’m sure they’ll have something similar.
• Also, Epicurious has an interactive “Seasonal Ingredient Map” that shows you what’s fresh in your area at the time you check the map. It also includes ingredient descriptions, shopping guides, recipes, and tips.
• The Natural Resources Defense Council has an interactive set of maps that shows you what produce is in season around the United States and helps you find a farmers’ market near you. The maps to nearby farmers’ markets even include directions by car, bike, walking and public transit.
• Finally, Eat Well Guide is a free online directory for anyone in search of fresh, locally grown and sustainably produced food in the United States and Canada. The Guide’s thousands of listings include family farms, restaurants, farmers’ markets, grocery stores, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, U-pick orchards, and more. Users can search by location, keyword, category or product to find good food, download customized guides, or plan a trip with the innovative mapping tool, “Eat Well Everywhere.”

So, now that you know where to look, figure out what’s in season where you live and dig in. You’ll be rewarded with quality food that’s more nutritious and better for the environment … and your taste buds will thank you for it!