Printable Fruits and Vegetables in Season by Month Guide
Yes, studies consistently show seasonal produce contains higher levels of vitamins, minerals, and protective plant compounds compared to off-season options transported long distances. By providing nutrients timed with natural cycles, seasonal eating prevents deficiencies and enhances the body’s defenses specific to each season. A CSA program allows you to purchase a share of a local farm’s harvest. This is a great way to get a variety of seasonal produce throughout the growing season. It goes without saying, but the most important reason to buy produce that is in season and grown locally is the benefit that it has to British farmers.
To eat seasonally means that you gravitate towards produce that are naturally found at certain times of the year. For a complete seasonal eating guide on when to harvest fruits and vegetables and how to use them, download my FREE printable chart below. Stone fruits and domestic artichokes from local farms are excellent sources of fiber and vitamin K, perfect for creative artichoke dishes or pasta dishes.
Seasonal eating may offer health benefits
Between school, events, and other commitments, it’s hard to find time for much else. Son Shine Kitchen was created to help other busy parents discover new recipes and learn cooking tips so they can create amazing meals for the family. Seasonal produce tastes better, is more nutritious, and often costs less because it’s harvested at its peak. It’s also more eco-friendly, requiring less transport and storage, and helps you enjoy a varied, exciting diet all year long. Warm sun ripens cruciferous vegetables and stone fruits, perfect for pasta dishes, whole wheat couscous, or roasted veggies with canola oil and a little olive oil. This is a good time of year for leafy greens, hearty potatoes, and bright citrus.
From juicy tomatoes to sweet corn, summer produce is bursting with flavor and color. Seasonal eating connects us to natural cycles while optimizing our health. It reduces our environmental footprint by minimizing transportation emissions.
When fruits and vegetables are grown during their natural timeframe, they will grow and thrive without any harmful additives. Seasonal eating is a sustainable way of changing your diet that has health advantages. Eating seasonally may seem like an ancient practice, but it offers immense wisdom and benefits that are extremely relevant in the modern era.
- Fruits and vegetables picked at their peak times are much more nutrient dense.
- This is a great way to get a variety of seasonal produce throughout the growing season.
- Fresh greens, apples, berries, and other produce create a rainbow of nutrition possibilities.
- Less shipping, refrigeration, and storage reduces carbon footprint and helps combat climate change.
- It’s a fantastic way to support your health, local economy, and the environment.
- As the nights draw in and the weather gets colder, we all enjoy tucking into warming dishes of food.
Vegetables to sow indoors/in greenhouses
Plus, when you’re cooking with seasonal ingredients, you’re more likely to be inspired to try new recipes and experiment with different flavor combinations. Proper storage can help extend the shelf life of your produce and prevent it from spoiling. Research the best storage methods for different types of fruits and vegetables. Winter produce may be less https://www.wwf.org.uk/better-basket abundant than in other seasons, but it still offers plenty of delicious and nutritious options to keep you warm and healthy during the colder months. Autumn brings a shift in flavors, with hearty root vegetables, warming spices, and fruits that evoke the cozy feeling of the season.
Visiting your local grocery store is an easy way to identify the most common seasonal foods. Typically, the produce they stock the most and sell for the lowest price will be in-season and available in abundance. Seasonal eating also supports local farmers who often employ more sustainable farming practices, reducing the reliance on pesticides and fertilizers that can harm the environment. Consider buying in bulk when produce is at its peak and preserving it for later use.
Late Summer Through Fall
In the spring and summer, look for fresh asparagus, crisp lettuce, and sweet corn. When it comes to eating, there are a lot of different approaches you can take. But one that’s been gaining popularity in recent years is seasonal eating. This means eating foods that are currently in season in your region, rather than relying on produce that’s been shipped from far away. Seasonal eating refers to harvesting and consuming foods grown in their correct season in your local area.
Gardening tips for summer
Supermarkets and growers also use pesticides, preservatives, wax coatings, and other unnatural chemicals to help lengthen the shelf life of fresh produce. Rotate ingredients with the seasonal produce list—from bok choy and leafy greens to snow peas and green bell peppers—to try new tasty recipes all year. Yes, seasonal eating can be more affordable unimeal reviews complaints than out-of-season produce due to higher supply and less transportation costs. Plus, locally-grown seasonal produce is often described as more delicious and better quality than produce that is out of season or imported. According to UMMS Health, fruits and vegetables that ripen naturally and are eaten soon after harvesting contain higher levels of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Grow a Garden
Seasonal fruits and vegetables are often prominently displayed and labeled to inform shoppers of their origin and freshness at the grocery store. This guide highlights which fruits and vegetables are in season each month across the U.S., making your next grocery trip or farmers market visit a breeze. Whether you’re craving hearty sweet potatoes in the fall or looking for fresh green beans to complement your spring meals, this guide will help you stay inspired all year long.
Our Most Popular Recipes of October
However, if you live in a warmer climate like myself, you will see more road markets or farmers’ markets bursting with assorted vegetables in the summer and fall months. If you are interested in eating seasonally and want a little more guidance, talk to a naturopathic doctor (ND). An ND will work with you to come up with a seasonal eating plan that provides you with enough nutrients and supports your individual lifestyle and health requirements.
Health News
Summer berries burst with antioxidants when we need sun protection. Fall squashes deliver immune-boosting nutrients as cold season approaches. Some vegetables that are grown can produce a bountiful amount like tomatoes and cucumbers.
Gardening tips for winter
Preserving seasonal bounty also cuts down on waste from big harvests. This allows us to sustainably enjoy the goodness long after the growing season ends. When produce is in season, it’s typically more abundant, leading to lower prices at farmers markets and grocery stores. Planning your meals around these affordable ingredients allows you to save money compared to buying out-of-season, imported items. Seasonal produce refers to fruits and vegetables that are harvested during their natural growing season.
Seasons: Summer (Dec-Feb), Autumn (Mar-May), Winter (June-Aug), Spring
That said, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying hot house-grown or imported produce, especially if it’s part of your family’s favorite meals. The goal of this seasonal produce guide isn’t to limit your options, it’s to empower you to make better choices when you can. Seasonal eating encourages you to focus on in-season fruits and vegetables.