What you might have been thinking: Buying seasonal produce is going to cost an arm and a leg and require extra time and effort. Besides, how much difference can be made through purchasing a few seasonal vegetables, anyway?

The Green Lemonade rethink: Filling the market basket with seasonal fruits and vegetables has never been more convenient. Farmer’s markets continue to multiply. It’s likely that there is one not far from where you live. In New York City, markets featuring produce from the region, usually sold by those who’ve produced it, can be found in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. (A directory of these farmers markets can be found here at the council on the environment of new york city.) Several of these markets are open year round…yup, even in the winter there is local goodness to be had.

And if you live outside of New York City, check out this national directory is a great resource.

Local food is also fresher, and tastes better

Connecting with these markets will benefit both you and your planet in a variety of ways. When you purchase produce that is locally in-season, you are ensuring that the food that you put into your body is fresher, more affordable, and hasn’t been racking up frequent flier miles. When we ignore what’s being harvested locally, we end up buying fruits and vegetables that have been flown in from around the world. Bell peppers and tomatoes, for example, are brought in from the Netherlands when purchased out of season. Asparagus often makes its way from distant Peru! Wouldn’t you rather give your hard-earned money directly to a farmer than a shipping company? If these social benefits of going seasonal don’t move you, maybe this tidbit will: this stuff looks, tastes and will make your body feel a lot better than berries, cherries and nectarines from far-flung locales!

Check out this seasonal produce calendar

For a look into seasonal fruits and vegetables to look for in New York by month check this monthly harvest calendar out.

If you live outside of New York state, the Local Harvest resource will also be helpful.

Have fun with this!