Fruits/Vegetables/Herbs: When Are They In Season?

There is a lot more to delicious cooking than sound technical knowledge. Knowing your ingredients is just as key. One of the most important ingredients that can affect your cooking and baking is produce. Unfortunately there is a misconception floating around that fruits, vegetables and herbs are naturally available year-round.

Though you may be able to find just about every type of fruit, vegetable or herb everyday of the year in the grocery store, a majority of those items are not in season. If you are buying a strawberry in december, you are likely purchasing a fruit that was picked six months ago and stored in a climate controlled facility. Or you are buying a berry that has spent the last few weeks in a shipping container as it trekked halfway across the globe from somewhere in the southern hemisphere. This extra time between picking and eating means loss of nutrients, flavor and quality and an increase in cost and carbon footprint.

Whether you are a strict seasonal-only shopper or not, knowing what produce is in season when can be very advantageous to successful cooking and baking. Not only will you notice fresher taste and stronger flavors but you will see a marked increase in savings, and a heightened sense of anticipation and appreciation for each season.

Below are three calendars breaking down the seasonal availability of fruits, vegetables and herbs. For more information on produce include tips on how to know you’re buying seasonal produce, check out the original post: Kitchen 101: Fruits, Vegetables & Herbs.