It could be as simple as swapping out a lime for a lemon, or beans for asparagus; experts say shopping seasonally will save you money on your next grocery bill.
The price of produce can fluctuate greatly throughout the year, depending on what is in its best growing season, weather conditions, and how far the food needs to travel before arriving at your local grocer.
And with busy lives, there are concerns that the average Australian diet is not only costing us more money for the convenience, but also taking a toll on our health.
Amelia Harray is a dietitian and director of Eat Sustainably, a social enterprise that helps people improve their health and reduce their emissions through food choices.
She said shopping for fresh produce that was in season in your state was often two to four times cheaper than sticking to a rigid shopping basket.
Amelia Harray says people can help their wallets and boost the nutrient value of their meals by shopping seasonally. (Supplied: Matt Biocich)
“Seasonal eating is choosing fruits and veggies that have been grown naturally, at the time that you buy them,” Dr Harray said.
“When are fruits and veggies most expensive? When they’re not in season.
“The reason for this is because they have either had to be stored for a long time or transported a long way — either internationally or across Australia — which increases the cost, which is then passed on to the consumer.”
Dr Harray said there were also environmental benefits because when fresh produce was grown in season, there were fewer resources such as irrigation or fertiliser needed, in addition to transport inputs, which ultimately added to the cost at the checkout.
Shop the specials
Ritchies IGA chief executive Fred Harrison said by learning more about how and when fresh produce was grown, the average shopper could save money at the checkout.
“As a product becomes more readily available, prices are cheaper and consumers can shop up,” Mr Harrison said.
“Asparagus is really good value at the moment, but give it another couple of weeks and pricing will start to climb.”
Asparagus has been on special in supermarkets due to seasonal oversupply. (ABC Rural: Jane McNaughton)
Boost for health and taste
Dr Harray said along with price, eating local seasonal foods was better for health because the quality of produce was better than out-of-season products.
“Eating something soon after it has been grown or picked maximises the nutritional value of the food that you’re eating — including vitamins and antioxidants, which reduce over time with light and heat,” she said.
“But they also taste more delicious.
“Eating something that has been naturally grown and not stored for a long time is really at its prime in terms of flavour and taste, so that can enhance people’s enjoyment of food.
“Plus, when fruits and veggies are expensive, it means that people are less likely to buy them.”
In addition to shopping at supermarkets, Dr Harray suggests shopping at a local market for in-season produce. (ABC News: Kate Ainsworth)
What’s in season?
Dr Harray and Mr Harrison said consumers were becoming less aware of how the food supply chain worked, as shoppers opted for familiarity and convenience.
“We’re very used to everything being at our fingertips,” Mr Harrison said.
“[There is the perception] that fruit and vegetables are a bit like baked beans: you can walk in any day, anytime and it will be a consistent price — no, it’s not.
“There are certain growing times when you do get plentiful crops, but other times you can’t grow the products.”
Fred Harrison says shopping the specials will often get you the freshest produce. (ABC News: Kyle Harley)
Dr Harray said she was often asked by people what was in season, and to help people understand she had compiled an online guide based on each state.
“But we need clearer labelling at the supermarket that says ‘in season’ [in addition to country of origin labelling],” she said.
“That would help people incredibly … people are time poor and they need convenience, they’re used to their habits of cooking certain meals.”
Mr Harrison said fruit and vegetables were “the best example of supply and demand reflecting prices accordingly”, and short of a specific label, being on special was often an indication that produce was in peak season, rather than a sign of it being lower quality.
“It’s not cheap because there is something wrong with it,” he said.
“Ninety-nine per cent of the time, it’s generally around [seasonal] oversupply.”
Best price and quality
Mr Harrison said for those looking for a bargain, stone fruits such as mangoes and nectarines were coming into season now along with blueberries.
And in the next few weeks, the price of grapes, cherries, and apricots would drop.
Mangoes are coming into season now. (ABC Rural: Michelle Stanley)
However, he said potatoes were currently out of season in Victoria and some varieties of tomato were more expensive than usual due to disease.
Mr Harrison said that, amid the cost-of-living crisis, IGA data showed consumers shopping discounted items in the fresh produce section.
“No doubt, when pricing is cheap people jump onto those products and buy more,” he said.
“You get the cheapest prices and the best quality.”
