Where our food comes from can greatly change the carbon footprint of our dish. Although it is more important what we eat rather than where it comes from, it is worth considering that using certain fruit and vegetables can significantly increase the carbon emissions of our meals at certain times of the year. This is particularly true if you are vegetarian or vegan. Research shows that if vegetarians and vegans do not take this into account, it is possible that their diet causes as many carbon emissions as a meat rich diet. The Vegetarian Society explain what is seasonal in the UK:

Winter

December:

Apples, beetroot, brussels sprouts, carrots, celeriac, celery, chestnuts, chicory, cranberries, Jerusalem artichokes, kale, leeks, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, pears, potatoes, pumpkin, quince, red cabbage, salsify, savoy cabbage, swede, swiss chard, turnips, watercress, winter squash, white cabbage.

January:

Apples, beetroot, brussels sprouts, carrots, celeriac, celery, chicory, Jerusalem artichokes, kale, leeks, mushrooms, onion, parsnips, pears, red cabbage, salsify, savoy cabbage, spring greens, spring onions, squash, swedes, turnips, white cabbage.

February:

Apples beetroot, brussels sprouts, carrots, celeriac, chicory, Jerusalem artichokes, kale, leeks, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, pears, purple sprouting broccoli, red cabbage, salsify, savoy cabbage, spring onions, squash, swedes, white cabbage.

Spring

March:

Artichoke, beetroot, carrots, chicory, leeks, parsnips, purple sprouting broccoli, radishes, rhubarb, sorrel, spring greens, spring onions, watercress.

April:

Artichoke, beetroot, carrots, chicory, new potatoes, kale, morel mushrooms, parsnips, radishes, rhubarb, rocket, sorrel, spinach, spring greens, spring onions, watercress.

May:

Artichoke, asparagus, aubergine, beetroot, chicory, chillies, elderflowers, lettuce, marrow, new potatoes, peas, peppers, radishes, rhubarb, rocket, samphire, sorrel, spinach, spring greens, spring onions, strawberries, sweetheart cabbage, watercress.

Summer

June:

Asparagus, aubergine, beetroot, blackcurrants, broad beans, broccoli, cauliflower, cherries, chicory, chillies, courgettes, cucumber, elderflowers, gooseberries, lettuce, marrow, new potatoes, peas, peppers, radishes, raspberries, redcurrants, rhubarb, rocket, runner beans, samphire, sorrel, spring greens, spring onions, strawberries, summer squash, sweetheart cabbage, swiss chard, tayberries, turnips, watercress.

July:

Aubergine, beetroot, blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, broad beans, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, cherries, chicory, chillies, courgettes, cucumber, gooseberries, greengages, fennel, French beans, garlic, kohlrabi, loganberries, new potatoes, onions, peas, potatoes, radishes, raspberries, redcurrants, rhubarb, rocket, runner beans, samphire, sorrel, spring greens, spring onions, strawberries, summer squash, sweetheart, cabbage swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips, watercress.

August:

Aubergine, beetroot, blackberries, blackcurrants, broad beans, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, cherries, chicory, chillies, courgettes, cucumber, damsons, fennel, French beans, garlic, greengages, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, loganberries, mangetout, marrow, mushrooms, parsnips, peas, peppers potatoes, plums pumpkin, radishes, raspberries, redcurrants, rhubarb, rocket, runner beans, samphire, sorrel, spring greens, spring onions, strawberries, summer squash, sweetcorn, sweetheart cabbage, swiss chard, tomatoes, watercress, white cabbage.

Autumn

September:

Aubergine, beetroot, blackberries, broccoli, brussels sprouts, butternut squash, carrots, cauliflower, celery, courgettes, chicory, chillies, cucumber, damsons, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mangetout, marrow, onions, parsnips, pears, peas, peppers, plums, potatoes, pumpkin, radishes, raspberries, red cabbage, rhubarb, rocket, runner beans, samphire, sorrel, spinach, spring greens, spring onions, strawberries, summer squash, sweetcorn, sweetheart cabbage, swish chard, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, wild mushrooms, white cabbage.   

October:

Aubergine, apples, beetroot, blackberries, broccoli, brussels sprouts, butternut squash, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chestnuts, chicory, chillies, courgette, cucumber, elderberries, kale, leeks, lettuce, marrow, onions, parsnips, pears, peas, potatoes, pumpkin, quince, radishes, red cabbage, rocket, runner beans, salsify, savoy cabbage, spinach, spring greens, spring onions, summer squash, swede, sweetcorn, sweetheart cabbage, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, wild mushrooms, winter squash, white cabbage.  

November:

Apples, beetroot, brussels sprouts, butternut squash, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chestnuts, chicory, cranberries, elderberries, Jerusalem artichokes, kale, leeks, onions, parsnips, pears, potatoes, pumpkin, quince, red cabbage, salsify, savoy cabbage, swede, swiss shard, turnips, watercress, wild mushrooms, winter squash, white cabbage.