Turnips. Swedes. Cabbages. If you’re anything like me, these words hark back memories of pale, bland school dinners dolloped unceremoniously onto a tray. Or perhaps they remind you of the diet of a Dark Age peasant. Either way, they are hardly foods that you would want to spend your top (or even bottom) dollar on. But let me try and convince you that it is high time to rehabilitate root veg.

In today’s world, we are very lucky to have almost unfettered access to any fruit or vegetable at any time of year. When the harvest in our corner of the world ends, we can simply fly over fresh pickings from sunnier shores. However, the impact of doing this on the environment is incredibly high. A study published in Nature Food revealed that ‘food miles’ make up almost 20% of food-system greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn represents about 30% of the human-produced total. High-income nations like the UK are the worst culprits – despite representing only 12% of the global population, they are responsible for 46% of food transport-related emissions. This is driven especially by our demand for exotic fruits such as pineapples – one pineapple generates the same emissions as driving 15 miles in a small car. The transport cost also makes imported foods much more expensive – strawberry prices double between summer and winter.

“One pineapple generates the same emissions as driving 15 miles in a small car”

In addition, ironically, imported foods can be much less tasty than homegrown alternatives. The shipping process is complicated and lengthy, and often this means that some fruits get spoiled along the way. Fruits are often picked for export before they are ripe, making them less flavourful and nutritious. Supermarkets compensate for this by ripening them artificially with chemicals such as ethylene which is produced from fossil fuels. Eating locally-produced, seasonal foods eliminates this need, offering us a more appetising option.

“Broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts also contain even more Vitamin C by weight than oranges”

Moreover, it’s not just citrus fruits that are packed with vitamins to keep us healthy and energised – many humble vegetables have this property too. Vitamin A is essential to keep us safe from winter bugs, and we need to eat beta-carotene to produce it. Pumpkins are rich in beta-carotene, so it may be time to keep buying them well beyond Halloween. Other good sources include spinach, kale, and Christmas staples such as carrots and Brussel sprouts. Broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts also contain even more Vitamin C by weight than oranges!

These leafy green veg are also high in iron and folate, helping improve your energy levels to fend off the winter blues. And they are among the most fibre-rich foods, a nutrient which 90% of Brits are deficient in. Eating enough fibre can ward off bowel cancer and improve digestion and uptake of other nutrients.

So next time, skip the tomatoes, strawberries and peppers for a warming bowl of pumpkin soup, roasted carrots or a kale smoothie. Your body, your wallet and the planet will thank you.