In Season Fruits & Veggies

The world we live in today has the unnatural ability to make things grow, reproduce, change in appearance, and earn a huge profit based on consumer’s needs and wants. Can we eat something in April that usually isn’t its absolute best until September? Yes. Even though all of this can be super convenient, there is still a huge difference in eating foods that are in season compared to when they are not.

When we eat foods that are growing in their God-given season, they are at their full potential. For example, you may wonder why you can’t find soft, ripe avocados at the grocery store in November. This is because an avocado’s harvest season is in the Spring and Summer. This doesn’t mean that you won’t ever be able to find a good avocado to eat during the Winter, but the price of an avocado will be higher due to the fact that the fruit (yes, it is a fruit) is not in season.

Working in the catering industry and having to design menus for clients, I really have to pay attention to what is in season because if I design a special salad with grilled peaches in January, the kitchen will have some issues finding a perfectly ripe peach during that time. Peaches are best in the Summer months. It is important to be aware of in-season foods because it also helps with costs. Ordering foods that are in-season will keep food costs down because the food purveyor can easily find and deliver what a restaurant or catering company are requesting.

How do you know what to buy that is in season? I would recommend supporting your local farmer’s markets and buying from them. You won’t find anything at a farmer’s market that has been artificially produced or sprayed with hormones.

Here is a small list of seasonal fruits and vegetables:

Winter:

• Apples
• Bananas
• Beets
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Celery
• Kale
• Lemons
• Orange
• Onions
• Parsnips
• Pears
• Potatoes
• Sweet Potatoes
• Pumpkins
• Turnips
• Winter Squash

Spring:

• Apples
• Apricots
• Asparagus
• Avocado
• Bananas
• Broccoli
• Collard Greens
• Garlic
• Mushrooms
• Peas
• Pineapple
• Spinach
• Strawberries
• Swiss Chard

Summer:

• Avocado
• Bananas
• Beets
• Bell Peppers
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Carrots
• Melons
• Cherries
• Corn
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Mangos
• Okra
• Peaches
• Plums
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Summer Squash & Zucchini
• Tomatoes

Fall:

• Sweet Potatoes
• Parsnips
• Turnips
• Apples
• Brussels Sprouts
• Pears
• Rutabaga
• Cauliflower
• Squash
• Pumpkin
• Pomegranates
• Dates
• Kiwi
• Grapefruit
• Tangerines

Eat good, whole, healthy foods! Bon Appetit!