It’s the Time of the Season for Eating: A Guide to Seasonal Vegetables and Fruits

By Kaitlin Bitz Candelaria | March 7, 2016
There are plenty of reason to eat seasonal vegetables and fruits.

Maybe you want to capitalize on the farm-to-table trend and grow food in your own back yard. Maybe you’re weirded out by the idea of genetically modified food. Maybe you just really enjoy the taste of a fresh piece of watermelon in the summer or perhaps your concerns are with sustainability.

Whatever your reasons are, it’s always a good idea to learn more about where your food comes from. Eating seasonably or simply learning about what foods grow when — so you’re not searching for fresh cranberries in the summer when you most likely won’t find them in the store — can be a fun and interesting way to challenge yourself in the supermarket and the kitchen.

It can also explain price variations in your grocery list. Most larger supermarkets will pay to have certain fruits and vegetables flown in from different parts of the country or even the world regardless of the season, which means you may see a hike in the price to cover the cost of transporting it.

Remember, your local growing season will depend on the environment where you live. This is a general guide to help you shop seasonally at the grocery store. If you’re interested in learning more about eating sustainable foods and going beyond the supermarket, check out our series on shopping local.

Winter Fruits and Vegetables

1. Acorn Squash
This cool-weather harvest is part of a group of vegetables known as winter squashes.
2. Brussels Sprouts seasonal vegetables
Brussels sprouts can be found on shelves most times of year except for during the hottest months of the year.
3. Bell Peppers
Peppers thrive in warm weather and generally do better with long growing seasons.
4. Butternut Squash
This cool-weather harvest is part of a group of vegetables known as winter squashes.
5. Grapefruit
This tree-growing fruit is most readily available during the colder weather months.
6. Limes
This tree-growing fruit is readily available during the cooler weather months, but can also be found during other times of year.
7. Pumpkin
This cool-weather harvest is part of a group of vegetables known as winter squashes.
8. Spaghetti Squash
This cool-weather harvest is part of a group of vegetables known as winter squashes.

 

Spring Fruits and Vegetables

1. Artichokes
Artichokes are heirloom vegetables that grow best in cool, but not cold, and moist conditions. You can generally find them in stores in the spring and in the fall, but don’t count on seeing them during the hottest and coldest months of the year — think July, August, January and February.
2. Asparagusseasonal vegetables
You’ll usually find fresh asparagus on the shelves starting in late winter through the end of the Spring months.
3. Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts can be found on shelves most times of year except for during the hottest months of the year.
4. Cherries
Cherries, which grow on trees, can be found throughout the warm weather months, including late spring and throughout the summer months.
5. Peas
Peas thrive in cooler weather, but cannot tolerate hot temperatures. They can be found in abundance in the spring and early summer. They can also be harvested in the fall, but require much more attention to grow successfully.
6. Strawberries
Strawberries can be found growing as soon as the soil begins to warm in the spring and grow heartily through the early months of the summer and produce harvest again in the fall.

 

Summer Fruits and Vegetables

1. Apricots
2. Blackberries
3. Blueberries

From Larsen Lake Blueberry Farms, a bucket of freshly picked blueberries.
4. Cherries
Cherries, which grow on trees, can be found throughout the warm weather months, including late spring and throughout the summer.
5. Corn
Just the word brings to mind summer relishes and dips — yum! Fresh corn can be found in stores from early summer on through the early autumn months.
6. Cucumbers
This spring crop can be found in abundance throughout the summer and early fall months.
7. Eggplant
This vegetable hits its high notes during the warmer months of the year and can generally be found on shelves throughout the summer and into the early autumn months.
8. Green Beans
Green beans can generally only be found fresh on the shelves during the summer months.
9. Melonsseasonal vegetables
10. Nectarines
This tree-growing fruit is readily available during the cooler weather months, but can also be found during other times of year.
11. Okra
12. Peas
Peas thrive in cooler weather, but cannot tolerate hot temperatures. They can be found in abundance in the spring and early summer. They can also be harvested in the fall, but require much more attention to grow successfully.
13. Peaches
This tree-growing fruit is readily available during warmer times of year, most commonly found in stores in summer and fall.
14. Pears
This tree-growing fruit is readily available during warmer times of year, most commonly found in stores in summer and fall.
15. Plums
These tree-growing fruits are generally readily available during the summer and fall months.
16. Raspberries
17. Strawberriesseasonal vegetables
Strawberries can be found growing as soon as the soil begins to warm in the spring and grow heartily through the early months of the summer and produce harvest again in the fall.
18. Tomatoesseasonal vegetables
19. White Potatoes
20. Yellow Squash
This warm-weather harvest is part of a group of vegetables known as summer squashes.
21. Zuchinni
This warm-weather harvest is part of a group of vegetables known as summer squashes.

 

Autumn Fruits and Vegetables

1. Applesseasonal vegetables
2. Artichokes
Artichokes are heirloom vegetables that grow best in cool, but not cold, and moist conditions. You can generally find them in stores in the spring and in the fall, but don’t count on seeing them during the hottest and coldest months of the year — think July, August, January and February.
3. Bell Peppersseasonal vegetables
Peppers thrive in warm weather and are generally do better with long growing seasons.
4. Blackberries
Blackberries grow on a climbing-type bush and can be found in the summer and in the fall.
5. Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts can be found on shelves most times of year except for during the hottest months of the year.
6. Cucumbers
This spring crop can be found in abundance throughout the summer and early fall months.
7. Grapes
8. Kiwi
9. Limes
This tree-growing fruit is readily available during the cooler weather months, but can also be found during other times of year.
10. Nectarines
This tree-growing fruit is readily available during the cooler weather months, but can also be found during other times of year.
11. Okra
12. Olivesseasonal vegetables
13. Peaches
This tree-growing fruit is readily available during warmer times of year, most commonly found in stores in summer and fall.
14. Pears
This tree-growing fruit is readily available during warmer times of year, most commonly found in stores in summer and fall.
15. Peas
Peas thrive in cooler weather, but cannot tolerate hot temperatures. They can be found in abundance in the spring and early summer. They can also be harvested in the fall, but require much more attention to grow successfully.
16. Plums
17. Raspberries
18. Strawberries
Strawberries can be found growing as soon as the soil begins to warm in the spring and grow heartily through the early months of the summer and produce harvest again in the fall.
19. Sweet Potatoes
20. Tomatoes
21. Yellow Squash
This warm-weather harvest is part of a group of vegetables known as summer squashes.
22. Zucchiniseasonal vegetables
This warm-weather harvest is part of a group of vegetables known as summer squashes.

 

Year Round Foods

These foods have multiple growing seasons and are grown in different parts of the country, meaning they’re readily available throughout the year.
1. Avocados
2. Beets
Beets are pretty sturdy and can handle colder temperatures. Therefore, you can usually find these bad boys in the store all year long. However, if you want to plant them yourself, do a little research based off of the region you life in. Beets are hardy, but there are some specifics about soil temperature and seed treatment depending on where you live.
2. Broccoli
Like beets, broccoli can generally be found in most supermarkets all year round due to the fact that it flourishes well in most environments.
3. Cabbage
4. Carrots
5. Cauliflower
Although it’s generally best to plant cauliflower during a cooler season, you can generally find cauliflower year-round, as it grows well in both the fall and spring growing seasons.
6. Celery
Despite the fact that celery is a notoriously difficult crop, you can generally find it in a grocery store during all times of the year thanks to growing seasons in different parts of the country.
7. Garlic
Another vegetable with two planting seasons, garlic can be found pretty much anytime. Which is great, because it’s a staple in my kitchen.
8. Kale
Lucky for you, this superfood is available all throughout the year. Check out our easy ways of cooking kale here.
9. Lemons
10. Lettuce
11. Mushrooms
12. Onions
13. Oranges
14. Radishes

For some fun ways to prepare radishes, check out our Weird Food Wednesday post here.
15. Spinachseasonal vegetables


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