What’s In Season?

Have you recently bought produce like watermelon, peaches, or arugula that has tasted dull, hard, or simply flavorless? Does it visually look appealing, but when you put it in your mouth it is disappointing? Why is that and what can we do about it? The answer is seasonality. Let's go through why knowing what's in season is not only beneficial for your tastebuds, but better for your overall health and wallet. 

Let’s Go Shopping

If you walked into a grocery store right now and headed to the produce aisle, would you know how to pick what fruits and vegetables are in-season? If you’re anything like me before covering this article, your answer is probably, “not really.” 

We all have our favorite go-to produce items. Maybe you’re a big fan of kiwi or peaches like me; but unfortunately these will not be in-season all year. In fact, each season has its own set of fruits and vegetables that are grown fresh and harvested that time of year. That being said, which foods are in-season in the cold of the fall and winter?

Do not fear! We will help answer that question, but first let’s talk about why in-season is important on a deeper level.

Why Does Seasonality Matter?

Buying in-season produce will be fresher, healthier, and cheaper.

Taste-wise, fresh and in-season produce is more flavorful because it has been naturally sweetened on the vine instead of heated artificially in a warehouse to ripen.

Price-wise, in-season produce is cheaper for consumers because there is a lot of it - abundance brings down the price. On the flip-side, if you are trying to buy something out-of-season, it will likely be more expensive than you are used to paying (when it is in-season) since more resources are required to grow it and there are less overall items available. 

Health-wise, as soon as they are harvested, fruits and veggies start to break down stored organic materials which causes them to lose flavor, texture, and nutrients. Additionally, when produce is sitting for long periods of time or being preserved, it loses a lot of its nutritional value and vitamins. This process is called respiration. So there is a huge benefit for your body to eat produce that is fresh and in-season. Picking up your produce at the local farmer’s market is a great way to ensure your produce is fresh and nutritious and give back to your community at the same time. 

Now that you know all this, it seems almost senseless to get an out-of-season item because it’s not going to be as flavorful, healthy, or reasonably priced! 

What’s In Season Now  

Certain fruits and veggies like avocados, potatoes, apples, carrots, and lemons are considered year-round produce. Other than that, most of your favorite fruits and vegetables probably have a specific season you’re meant to enjoy them in. Of course, this varies based on where you live, but here are some basic items for each season.

Spring/Summer

• Asparagus

• Spinach

• Mushrooms

• Chives

• Peas

• Mint

• Bell Peppers 

• Radishes

• Rosemary

• Sage

• Cabbage

• Apricots

• Beets

• Carrots

Fall/Winter

• Corn 

• Cucumber

• Kale

• Bell Peppers 

• Cranberries

• Figs 

• Onions 

• Butternut squash

• Brussels sprouts 

• Pumpkins 

• Pears 

Next time you’re doing some meal planning, keep in mind what is in-season and try to opt for recipes that incorporate those items. Not only will your meals taste better, but they have the most nutrients available for you and your family. 

For a complete list of seasonal fruits and vegetables in your area, check out this produce guide.