In season for a reason – Jimmy Garcia speaks at Event Sustainability Live
Jimmy participated as a panellist on the Isla stage at the Event Sustainability Live show at ExCeL London, speaking on the topic Seasonality in Catering: Managing Costs and Meeting Audience Expectations. Talking to an audience of event professionals and alongside panellists from The Soil Association and food sharing app Olio, he shared insights on the vital role caterers can play in reducing the carbon impact of an event. Jimmy highlighted some of the benefits that come from using seasonal and locally sourced produce in cooking - not only the reduced miles involved but also the support for the local economy. At Jimmy Garcia Catering, we have long championed the seasonality movement by highlighting all the great growers, farmers and producers that we work with here in the UK.
Jimmy is also advocating for a shift in UK food culture, aiming for a future where supermarkets no longer sell imported out-of-season products, similar to the approach in France where all the fruit and veg is proudly home grown. Every item in the grocery aisle has a story attached —it’s been planted, grown, picked, washed, and prepared by someone.
“Educating both producers and consumers about the importance of seasonality is essential. To help tell the story behind our food, we include local supplier maps on our menus, highlighting where our ingredients come from and the sustainable practices behind them. By showcasing the origins of our ingredients, we aim to inspire people to think about the journey of their food and make more mindful choices.”
Jimmy Garcia
Founder of Jimmy Garcia Catering
The discussion also highlighted our commitment to waste reduction, particularly through our partnership with the Waterloo Community Fridge. After events, we pack up any leftover food in compostable boxes, clearly labelled, and donate it to the community fridge, where it’s typically gone by 9-11 am the following day. We’re also dedicated to minimising waste by pickling, fermenting, or freezing ingredients that are nearing the end of their season.
This event was a fantastic opportunity for Jimmy to demonstrate our commitment to seasonality, locality and sustainability while encouraging a broader conversation around these critical issues.
