Local Food Means Seasonal Eating

A winter scene at Deck Family Farm. Ⓒ2025 Deck Family Farm

When an Oregonian makes a decision to eat food produced locally, they are embarking on a seasonal eating adventure. Instead of imported tomatoes and sweet corn in December, we look to beets and butternut squash grown here. It creates opportunities to explore new recipes and traditions: instead of that traditional green bean dish at Thanksgiving, we might cook roasted Brussel sprouts. There are lots of health benefits, too: variety in diet, nutritional quality, developing community, and more.

Seasonal eating is growing in popularity because customers are skeptical of international food distribution. When produce and meats are shipped from another country we can no longer be sure that the industry standards were as high as those in America. The carbon cost of flying in apples from Chile, for instance, also seem questionable.

All foods in their time.

Those are good things to question but I think the best part of seasonal eating is the personal benefits gleaned when we live in accordance with our local climate.

Nutritionally, local fruits and vegetables are picked and served at peak ripeness and maximum nutrient density. It will also taste better and fresher since it didn't have to travel far to your table. So in the summer, we seasonal eaters can enjoy near-constant splurging on the heirloom tomatoes, peaches and corn guilt free because they won't be around after September.

Then, in winter, when you limit your eating to locally grown storage (squash, onions, beets, potatoes, celeriac, etc.) you are increasing your annual dietary diversity, providing a broad spectrum of nutrients through out the year. Digging in the freezer and larder to come up with beautifully rich slow-cooked soups and roasts, and grateful for the oven warming the house.

It is also natural that our bodies have changing nutritional needs at different times of the year. When it's cold and the days are short, we want warming and cozy foods that support detoxification. In summer we want cooling, high water-content foods.

By doing this, we are also improving our mental health. Seasonal eating promotes awareness of food sources and pushes us to more mindfully prepare and eat our meals. This alignment with the seasons can improve our sense of place and community - things we all need more of these days.

Everything in its season.

Everything we sell at Full Farm CSA was grown without chemicals and fertilizers, of course, but appropriate climate-crop alignment is also helpful for conventional farming, allowing for reduced use of pesticides and chemicals. Eating seasonally reduces reliance on transported, out-of-season produce, lowering emissions and pollution, which also supports overall public health.

And shopping local supports local farmers who farm sustainably and creates community wellbeing. So you are already doing the best thing possible for fulfilling a seasonal eating goal: shopping direct from your farmer! If the food we sell wasn't grown at Deck Family Farm, it was grown in Lane County by our partners and friends.

Harvest time at Little Wings Farm.

There will be exceptions in the middle of winter, however. Along with the small producers like Red Tail Organics and Little Wings Farm, we order from regional distributor Organically Grown Company (based in Portland) all year long. They purchase and distribute organic produce from the entire West Coast, including from many of our local farming neighbors. We are very particular in our OGC purchases, aiming for Oregon-made as much as possible. In February, March and early April it is challenging to find local food and so sometimes we are stuck listing foods from Washington and Northern California.

Someday, it will be wonderful to report that Western Oregon has become completely capable of feeding itself. We look forward to being part of a food system that grows and stores all the produce and meats needed to make it through every winter. Until then, we do the best we can and continue to create the economy we dream of. Thank you for being part of that progress!

Look out for recipe posts that will support you in your seasonal eating goals. First up is spaghetti squash baked with frozen tomatoes and Creamy Cow Farmer's Cheese.