Brighter Planet

These days there are few foods you can’t find in a supermarket year-round. As a consequence, few of us pause to consider whether the food we eat makes sense given the time of year. Eating out-of-season food is an easy way to rack up a huge carbon footprint — either it’s been transported from far away or it’s been grown in an energy-intensive climate-controlled structure. Avoid foods that aren’t in season.

Canning and freezing are time-honored methods of preserving seasonal foods for later enjoyment. Just remember to check where the food came from, and that canning and freezing also take energy.