It's possible to eat more economically while supporting sustainable food production - and it's very simple indeed. One of the best reflexes to adopt is to favour seasonal and local produce. It's not just an ecological or ethical choice, it's also a practical way of lowering the price of your shopping basket while improving quality.
🛒 Cheaper... and more logical
Seasonal fruit and vegetables are more abundant, because they grow naturally without the need for costly devices such as heated greenhouses or refrigerated transport. This abundance translates directly into lower prices.
Let's take a simple example: courgettes. In summer, it grows in profusion in Swiss vegetable gardens. It is then sold at moderate prices on the markets. In winter, the same courgette has to be imported from Spain or Morocco - its price rises and its quality falls.
The same applies to other farm products: eggs, cheese, meat or honey... When you buy directly from the producer, without going through intermediaries, you pay the right price, often lower than in supermarkets for much better quality.
🍓 Fresher, tastier
Eating in season means rediscovering the natural rhythm of flavours. A tomato picked ripe on the farm will always taste better than an imported tomato, harvested green and artificially ripened during transport. It's the difference between a living fruit and a graded product.
When you eat locally, the food hasn't travelled for days. It's often harvested the same morning or the day before, which guarantees incomparable freshness.
What's more, cooking becomes more intuitive: seasonal produce is easier to cook and goes well together. A pumpkin soup in October, a tomato salad in July... It's also about bringing back the pleasure of eating simply.
🤝 More responsible consumption
By buying locally, you're supporting the regional economy. You're helping to support local producers, maintain jobs and preserve farms that are often family-run.
It's also good for the planet. Less transport, less packaging, fewer intermediaries: your carbon footprint is considerably reduced.
And above all, it's an act of transparency. You know where what you're eating comes from, how it was grown and under what conditions. This bond of trust between producer and consumer is precious - and all too rare in industrial channels.
🌍 Some practical ideas to adopt
- Keep a seasonal calendar in your kitchen to help you keep track.
- Visit the farms near you: many sell direct, at very attractive prices.
- Subscribe to a weekly basket of farm produce: it's practical and often economical.
- Use apps like Farm'in to quickly find the producers around you.
To sum up
Buying local and seasonal is a win-win situation: for your budget, your taste buds, the producers and the planet. It's a habit that everyone can get into, and it makes all the difference.
So why pay more for less?