When planning out your summer catering, consider the value of seasonal produce. Seasonal produce is sustainable, local, fresh, and enticing. There are a number of reasons to emphasize seasonal produce, from corporate responsibility, to creating a memorable occasion. Here's what you need to know.
What Produce is Seasonal During the Summer?
You can get just about anything in a grocery store at any time throughout the year, so it may not be obvious what produce is actually in season during the summer. Seasonal produce is fresh from local farmers and supports the local farming industry, whereas other things need to be shipped in. That damages quality and sustainability.
Here are a few products that are seasonal during the summer in Australia: apples, bananas, berries, melons, pineapple, rambutan, asparagus, beans, beetroot, carrots, corn, eggplant, leeks, radish, shallots, squash, tomato, watercress, and zucchini. Australia has some fantastic produce that's available during the summer, during a time when much of the world doesn't have similar produce available locally.
What Produce Has Been Impacted Due to the Bushfires?
Unfortunately, bushfires have been impacting the produce market in Australia. Some $4.4 billion dollars in damage has already impacted Australian businesses, including farms. Both fruits and vegetables have been impacted by the bushfires racing along Australia's coast. Banana growers have been raising funds to counteract this impact, and many other farmers are still not sure of the true extent of the damage.
With the bushfire damage so extensive, very few areas of agriculture haven't been impacted in some way. This summer, there are likely to be reduced amounts of seasonal produce.
Purchasing seasonal, local produce isn't just more sustainable, but can also help farmers local to Australia. Of course, local produce may also see an increase in prices because of this, but it's something necessary to support local economies. If local farmers aren't able to sell their wares, even at these increased prices, they may not be able to continue farming.
What Are the Benefits of Purchasing Seasonal Produce?
Even before the bushfires, there were many reasons to purchase seasonal produce. Laissez-faire has always been a strong proponent of seasonal produce for the following reasons:
- Higher quality goods. Seasonal produce doesn't have to be shipped as far and is allowed to ripen on farms rather than in stores, thereby leading to higher quality goods that both look and taste better.
- Money into the local economy. Money into small businesses helps everyone. When small businesses thrive, the community itself thrives. By pouring money into the local economy, you can create better relationships and a stronger community overall.
- Better, more innovative menu creation. Using seasonal produce can give you great ideas for the type of menu you want, rather than having to create a menu from whole cloth. Choose a few great fruits and vegetables to be the "stars" of your drinks and dishes.
- More sustainable in general. Non-local, non-seasonal produce has to be shipped far distances to get to Australia, increasing your carbon footprint significantly. It's more sustainable to purchase things as close to your location as possible, to reduce on waste.
When planning catering for corporate events, you don't want to just create an interesting and delicious menu; you also want to promote sustainability and corporate ethics. Seasonal produce has tremendous value for catering events.
How Can You Create the Best Summer Events?
Selecting the best catering Sydney can offer is the first step in creating a perfect summer event. Laissez-faire can help you create an excellent summer menu that is centered around delicious, seasonal produce, even if the supply may be light.
At Laissez-faire, we can help you setup your entire corporate catering experience, including choosing a venue. Once you have your catering and venue in mind, you can make critical decisions about your menu, decor, and more.
Are you planning catering for corporate events? Contact us today on (02) 9209 4810 or make an enquiry online.