As most nutritionists and chefs would agree, eating seasonable produce is a great idea. Whether you want to consume more sustainably and/or foster healthier eating habits, the awareness of buying fresh, local, season-appropriate fruit and vegetables is (thankfully) growing.

The Berlin/Brandenburg region and Germany in general boast a wealth of diverse agricultural products, making it easier to access and enjoy the good stuff. So now each month for our BECYCLE community, we will be sharing the seasonal fruit and veg, making it even easier to make healthier choices.

The time between June and October is usually particularly bountiful. And with July comes the height of summer, abundant sunshine, and the seasonal calendar offers a wide range of local fruits and vegetables. In addition to cauliflower, carrots, kohlrabi and many different green lettuces, you can now look forward to berries and stone fruit: red currants, raspberries, gooseberries peaches and apricots. (Sadly, the strawberry season, is slowly coming to an end now.)

Things to keep in mind:

Peaches and other stone fruit will rarely be of "organic" origin in our climate, even this time of year, unless grown and purchased in south of Germany and the Tyrol region.
Tomatoes and cucumbers grown in Germany usually tend to come from large greenhouses, no matter the time of year. And unless organic, will be grown in heated ones, so it's best to opt for brands like Bioland, Naturland und Demeter, to ensure lack of pesticides and energy-consuming heating. Fresh, local cucumbers are usually only available in July and August.

Fortunately, everything is made easier by the fact that Berlin is also a host to many weekly farmer's markets. The closest one to BECYCLE is the Arkonaplatz market on Friday afternoons. For additional markets near you, check out these links in English and German.

Article by Katia Varfolomeeva

In Season: July Fruit & Vegetables