Introduction and Overview › Glossary for Networking Language · 3 min read
Local food refers to the supply of food from the immediate geographic surroundings—often within a neighborhood or community. It aligns with natural growth cycles, soil quality, climate, and the real conditions on the ground. This form of nutrition is based on the principle of proximity—both to the earth and to the people it sustains.
Local food is seasonal, reduces transport distances, preserves nutrients, and strengthens the connection between cultivation and consumption. It not only brings fresh and healthy products to the table but also preserves agricultural knowledge, crop diversity, and ecologically managed landscapes.
Regional food goes beyond the local framework—it encompasses supply within a larger, contiguous landscape or federal state. A typical example: A hazelnut farmer whose soil is particularly well-suited focuses on hazelnut production and supplies not only their village but the entire region. If these products cannot be cultivated in other regions, sensible further processing and delivery to other areas—even export—can be a solidaristic solution.
Regional food remains rooted in the logic of proximity, diversity, and responsibility. It complements local food—it is not a competitor. It contributes to specialization and supply security and becomes particularly necessary when certain products are not locally available or not available in sufficient quantities.
The Europe-regional level in TEIKEI functions as a supply alliance for vibrant food systems. It steps in where local or regional structures (yet) cannot meet needs. A central principle applies: What is possible locally is never replaced by European products.
TEIKEI’s platform structure ensures that local producers can always sell their products in full. Only when demand exceeds the local and regional levels are products from other European regions integrated. This happens in a solidaristic, needs-based manner and in feedback with the local community.
This creates not a competitive struggle between regions or businesses, but a network of cooperation in which each region can develop its strengths—and local supply sovereignty remains intact.
The TEIKEI Agora is continuously being developed to not only coordinate Europe-regional products but also make local products visible and accessible. Our goal is for local products to be distributed directly to local communities via the Agora—without detours and without competitive pressure. This creates a digital infrastructure that complements, strengthens, and respects the autonomy of local food systems.
The platform serves as a supportive structure that helps preserve, expand, and connect existing local food systems—without undermining their autonomy.
A key tool for strengthening local food is the seasonal overview. A cultivation seasonal calendar helps you align with the time of year, soil maturity, and region.
| Product | March | April | May |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild garlic | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Rhubarb | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Spinach | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Radishes | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Lettuce (early) | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Kohlrabi | ✔️ | ||
| Asparagus | ✔️ | ||
| Spring onions | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Chard | ✔️ | ||
| Strawberries (early) | ✔️ |
| Product | June | July | August |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Cucumbers | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Zucchini | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Eggplants | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Bell peppers | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Early potatoes | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Beans | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Lettuce (summer) | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Broccoli | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Strawberries | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Raspberries | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Currants | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Blackberries | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Gooseberries | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Cherries | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Apricots | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Early apples | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Product | September | October | November |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pumpkin | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Apples (late) | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Pears (late) | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Plums | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Quinces | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Grapes | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Beetroot | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| White cabbage | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Brussels sprouts | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Leek | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Celery | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Spinach (autumn) | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Raspberries (late) | ✔️ | ||
| Blackberries (late) | ✔️ | ||
| Rosehips | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Elderberries | ✔️ |
| Product | December | January | February |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kale | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Brussels sprouts | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Stored apples | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Stored pears | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Quinces (stored) | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Dried apple rings | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Dried pears | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Walnuts | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Hazelnuts | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| White cabbage | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Red cabbage | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Parsnips | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Jerusalem artichoke | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Corn salad | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Chinese cabbage | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Purslane | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
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By the TEIKEI editorial team, with AI support (ChatGPT)
Created on May 4, 2025 · Last updated on October 14, 2026
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