With the economy the way it is and food prices rising, it is a good thing to know when fruits and vegetables are in season. When you buy out of season, it costs you more money. When you buy in season and from your local food supplier, you are saving that money, you can buy more to freeze or can and you are helping your local economy. Why your local food supplier? Because when you use the farmers market to your advantage, you are saving the cost of fuel for that supplier to ship it to you and it helps to boost your local economy.
You can print out the handy charts and put them on your fridge for handy reference. This list was given to me by one of our own local farmers. He says these times are typical all around the country, as this is a growers list, but may vary by a few weeks.
Apples:
- Golden Delicious: September-October
- Granny Smith: October-November
- Jonathan: September-October
- McIntosh: Fall
- Pippin (Newton): Fall
- Red Delicious: September-October
- Rome: October-November
- Winesap: October-November
Pears:
- Anjou: October-May
- Bartlett (Williams): September-May
- Bosc: September-May
- Comice: October-February
- Seckel: August-December
Berries
- Blackberries: Mid-June through August. (Loganberries, Olalie berries and boysenberries are blackberry hybrids)
- Blueberries: mid-June to mid-August
- Cranberries: Labour Day through October.
- Currants: Late Summer
- Raspberries: late May through November
- Strawberries: April through June
Other Fruits
- Grapefruits: All year
- Lemons: all year
- Limes: all year
- Oranges: all year peak season: December to April
- Blood Oranges: winter months
- Figs: June through October (Calimyrna figs only during June)
- Persimmons: October through January
- Pomegranates: September through December peak season in October
- Prickly Pears: September through December
- Rhubarb: early spring February through May
- Star Fruits: August to February
- Thompson Seedless Grapes: June to November
- Concord, Ribier and Emperor Grapes: Autumn
- Cantaloupes: Summer
- Casaba Melons: September and October
- Crenshaw Melon: July through October, peak season, August and September
- Honeydew Melons: almost all year - Peak season June through October
- Santa Claus Melons: December
- Quince: October through January
- Apricots:June and July
- Cherries: June and July
- Peaches and Nectarines: Summer July and August. South American crops from January to May
- Plums: June to October Peak: August to September
- Bananas: all year
- Dates: Fresh October through December
- Mango: May through August
- Papaya: April through June
- Passion Fruit:February and March
- Pineapples: all year - Peak March through June
Vegetables
- Bok Choy: All year
- Broccoli: All year
- Brussel Sprouts: September through February
- Cauliflower: All year especially from late fall through the spring
- Green and Red Cabbages: All year
- Kale: All year with peak during the winter months
- Napa Cabbage: All year
- Savoy Cabbage: August through the spring
- Avocados: All year Haas: April though October; Fuertes Avocados November through April
- Eggplant: All year with peak during the late summer
- Sweet Pepper: All year for green other colors are more readily available during the summer and fall
- Hot Peppers: All year
- Tomatillos: All year with peak season during the summer and fall
- Tomatoes: All year with summer peak season for most varieties
- Cucumbers: All year although peak season from April through October
- Chayotes: Late Fall and Winter
- Winter Squashes: October through March
- Summer Squashes: All year, their peak season April through September
- Mustard, Sorrel, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Turnip Greens: Most All year, especially from November through June
- Mushrooms: Cultivated: All year Wild: durning summer and fall Truffles: fall
- Bulb Onions: All year
- Fennel: September through May
- Garlic: All year
- Kohlrabi: June through September
- Leeks: All year
- Scallions: All year with peak summer season
- Shallots: All year
- Corn: Summer
- Fresh Beans: April through December
- Dried Beans: All year
- Fresh Shelling Peas: April and May
- Edible Podded Peas: All year, with peak season March and April
- Okra: June through September
- Beets: All year with peak season March to October
- Carrots: All year
- Celery Root: October through April
- Jicama: All year with peak season Janugary through May
- Parsnips: All year with peak season December through April
- Radishes and Diakon: All year
- Rutabagas: All year peak season January through March
- Turnips: All year - Spring is peak season
- Artichokes: March through May
- Asparagus: March through June
- Celery: All year
- Nopales: All year with peak season in late spring
- Potatoes including sweet and yams: Most varieties available all year
