For locally cultivated strawberries, cauliflower and lettuce, there are no long transport routes. But fruits and vegetables, cultivated in this very country, can also be a burden for the environment.
This could, for example, be the case when they are grown in greenhouses or under foil covers, because it is still too cold for the plants. Those who value these aspects when shopping, there now is the 'Green time' app from consumer center Schleswig-Holstein. For more than 60 local varieties of fruit and vegetables, this not only indicates when they are in season, but also when they are cultivated in a particularly environmentally friendly way.
Traffic light system
The app uses a traffic light system. Green means that that month is good for a free-range product - with very little climate impact. In June, for example, this applies to kohlrabi, carrots, strawberries, rocket or lamb's lettuce.
Products that are grown under fleece or in low-heat greenhouses - or are only available as stock items in the selected period of time - are marked in yellow. Red colored - synonymous with a high climate impact - are those from greenhouses that require a lot of heating.
The consumer advocates make it clear that a red symbol in the app does not mean they advise against buying the product. However, they want to show that there are other vegetables or fruits available that were produced with a lower energy consumption - being less of a burden to the climate.
Source: dpa