Have a Sustainable Summer!

Summer is finally here, and it’s the perfect time to enjoy the sunshine, fresh food, and long days outdoors. It’s also a great moment to make small, thoughtful choices that help protect the planet while keeping life joyful and simple.

At Sweet Farm, we believe sustainability should feel approachable, practical, and rooted in everyday habits. This month, we’re sharing a few easy ways to make your summer a little lighter on the Earth.

Eat with the season

One of the most sustainable ways to eat is to enjoy what’s growing locally now. Seasonal produce is fresher, more flavorful, and less resource-intensive than foods shipped long distances, and it’s a great way to celebrate summer’s abundance while supporting your local community. Produce in the United States travels about 1,500 miles on average before reaching the dinner table. That makes farmers markets, local gardens, and seasonal recipes a simple way to support a more resilient food system while also increasing the amount of nutrition you’re getting from your food.

If you have a garden, summer is the time to harvest, share, freeze, or preserve what you grow. Extra harvest?? Try putting it out at your office, or even on a table in front of your house for passersby. If you don’t garden, shopping locally or choosing seasonal produce at the market can still make a big difference to your climate imprint.

Waste less food

Summer tends to bring lots of picnics, cookouts, and overflowing produce bins, which can also mean more food waste. It is estimated that as much as a whopping 40% of food in the US goes to waste. Food loss and waste generates an estimated 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Not only is that a travesty considering how many Americans are going hungry, but when food waste rots in landfills, it produces methane — an incredibly powerful greenhouse gas with roughly 80x the warming power of carbon dioxide. So a little planning can go a long way: make a list before shopping, store produce properly, and get creative with leftovers so more of what you buy gets eaten instead of tossed.

Try turning extra vegetables into soups, salads, or grain bowls, and use overripe fruit in smoothies or baked goods. Reducing food waste saves money, reduces emissions, and helps you get the most from every meal. Need inspiration for what to do with abundant summer veggies?

Choose reusable

Summer is full of single-use temptations, from takeout containers to picnic supplies, to travel-sized everything. Swapping in reusable plates, bottles, napkins, containers, utensils, and bags is an easy way to cut down on waste while also setting an important example for family, friends, and the next generation.

One reusable bottle or container won’t change the world overnight, but repeated use adds up quickly over a whole season of outings, errands, and meals on the go. A simple reusable kit also makes it easier to say yes to impromptu plans without defaulting to disposables.

Support our work

Everything we share in our sustainability newsletters connects back to Sweet Farm’s mission to save animals, feed our community, and help you make climate-friendly choices. Every purchase in our store supports that work and helps us keep building a more compassionate future.

If you’re looking for a simple way to take action this month, consider choosing one sustainable swap, shopping intentionally, or sharing this newsletter with a friend. Small choices create real impact when we make them together.