How to Eat What’s In Season

We know that it’s best to eat locally and what’s in season. But, with so much bounty at our grocery stores, it’s hard to know what really is in season. Food in season will be sweeter and better tasting, as well as being more affordable. Of course, go to your local Farmer’s Market to buy seasonal produce first hand or grow some yourself.

Here’s a simple guide to when popular fruits and vegetables are in season as well as a list of foods for each season. I was surprised by how many fruits and vegetables are seasonal in the winter.

BY FRUIT OR VEGETABLE

FRUIT

• Applies: September and October
• Blueberries: May to August
• Clementines: November through January
• Grapefruit: Christmas through April
• Lemons (Eureka or Lisbon): May through August
• Lemons (Meyer): November through March
• Limes: May through October
• Ruby Red Grapefruit: October to April
• White Grapefruit: April through June
• Blood Orange: December through April
• Navel Orange: December through March
• Peaches: July through September
• Anjou Pears: Winter
• Bartlett Pears: late Summer
• Bosc and Comice Pears: Fall through Winter
• Strawberries: June through mid-August
• Tangerine: October through January
• Tomatoes: June through September, peaking at end of summer

VEGETABLES

• Asparagus: early Spring
• Artichokes: peak March to May
• Avocado: Spring through Autumn
• Beets: June through October
• Broccoli: Spring and Fall; October through April
• Cabbage: late Fall through Winter
• Carrots: late Summer through Fall
• Cauliflower: Fall
• Celery: April through December
• Chard: June through August
• Corn: June through October
• Cucumbers: June through November
• Eggplant: June through October
• Kale: Mid-Summer through December
• Lettuce: Spring and Fall
• Mushrooms: Year-round
• Onions: Spring and Summer
• Peas: early Spring
• Potatoes (sweet): September through December
• Potatoes (white): June, July, August
• Radishes: Winter and Spring
• Scallions: Spring
• Spinach: Spring and Fall
• Squash (summer): June through October
• Squash (winter): October, November, December
• Tomatoes: June through September
• Turnips: Fall and Spring

BY SEASON

WINTER (JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH)

• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Clementines
• Broccoli
• Grapefruit (white)
• Grapefruit (Ruby Red)
• Leeks
• Lettuce
• Lemons (Meyer)
• Mushrooms
• Oranges (Blood)
• Oranges (Navel
• Pears (Anjou)
• Radishes
• Tangerines

SPRING (APRIL/MAY/JUNE)

• Asparagus
• Artichokes
• Avocado
• Broccoli
• Blood Orange
• Beets
• Blueberries
• Celery
• Cherries
• Grapefruit (white)
• Lemons (Eureka or Lisbon)
• Lemons (Meyer)
• Lettuce
• Limes
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Peas
• Radishes
• Rhubarb
• Scallions
• Spinach
• Swiss Chard
• Strawberries
• Turnips

SUMMER (JULY/AUGUST/SEPTEMBER)

• Apple
• Avocado
• Beets
• Blueberries
• Carrots
• Celery
• Corn
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Kale
• Lemons (Eureka or Lisbon)
• Limes
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Peaches
• Pears (Bartlett)
• Potatoes (white)
• Strawberries
• Summer Squash
• Swiss Chard
• Tomatoes

FALL (OCTOBER/NOVEMBER/DECEMBER)

• Apples
• Avocado
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Carrots
• Celery
• Clementines
• Corn
• Grapefruit (Ruby Red)
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Limes
• Mushrooms
• Pears (Bosc and Comice)
• Potatoes (sweet)
• Spinach
• Squash (winter)
• Tangerines
• Turnips

---

About Peggy O’Mara. I am an independent journalist who edits and publishes peggyomara.com. I was the editor and publisher of Mothering Magazine for over 30 years and founded Mothering.com in 1995. My books include  Having a Baby Naturally, Natural Family Living, The Way Back Home and A Quiet Place. I have conducted workshops at Omega Institute, Esalen, La Leche League, and Bioneers. I am the mother of four and grandmother of three. Please check out my email newsletter with free tips on parenting, activism, and healthy living.