Eating Seasonally and Locally = Lower Food Costs

One of the benefits of eating seasonally and locally is cheaper food costs, thanks in part to lower transportation costs.

For example, the price of berries has gone down in the past week or two. The origin of blueberries, strawberries and raspberries is now the United States, rather than South America, as was the case for the past several months.

At my local market (in Manhattan), a dry pint of blueberries from North Carolina cost $3.49 yesterday. Just two weeks ago, blueberries from Chile were $6 for a like amount. And in several weeks, when New Jersey blueberries become available, the price should drop to about $2.50 for a dry pint.

Vegetables now in season include asparagus, radishes and arugula. The first of the year’s cherries just arrived in stores, but wait another two weeks or so for the truly sweet ones.