As my time in Aix-en-Provence draws to a close, I find myself taking longer walks, staring at anything and everything, in an attempt to capture every nook and cranny of the city in my mind. I inhale deeper each morning when I leave the house, trying to imprint the smell of lemon and olive trees in my memory forever.

While certain things in Aix will only accompany me to the U.S. as memories, there are many French habits I want to incorporate into my American life. Above all, I want to implement the practice of eating with the seasons. In an agricultural place such as France, cuisines are seasonal and reflect the harvest periods of various fruits and vegetables. This way, the food one eats is sure to be local, organic, and tastier. I find that most Americans don’t ever think about when their food is in season; rather, they buy what’s available at the grocery store with little to no regard for where or how it was grown. Not only are these fruits and vegetables less flavorful, they also often result in much higher carbon footprints.

I plan to shop for my produce at local markets when I return to the U.S. so that I can implement the practice of seasonal eating while supporting local farmers.