By Becky Hardin
Published Oct 8, 2020
Wondering what produce is in season right now? Eating in season has many great benefits, but first you have to know WHEN everything is available. So check our chart to find out which fruits and vegetables are in season during Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter!
Seasonal Produce Guide
Eating produce in season is a great thing to add into your regular eating and cooking routine. There are plenty of reasons to focus on buying the vegetables and fruits that are available seasonally. The fact that it’s generally budget-friendly is a big reason to give it a try!
It’s not always easy to make sure you’re eating seasonal fruits and vegetables, especially if you’re not sure when produce is grown. And if you’re used to eating certain veggies/fruits year-round, it might be an adjustment.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are truly the best of the best, so keeping the seasonal produce calendar in mind will help you to shop for the best produce!
Nobody here is asking for perfection, but once you know when different fruits and vegetables are in season, you’ll start to notice the difference in price, availability, and even flavor throughout the year!
What fruits and vegetables are in season right now?
Check the chart and lists below for a quick look at which produce is in season during spring, summer, fall, or winter. Some fruits or veggies can grow in multiple seasons or even year-round. And what’s in season NEAR YOU will vary as well. However, within most of the U.S., these are the in-season vegetables you’re likely to find at farmer’s markets and grocery stores each season.
Tip!
The best way to find out what’s in season locally is to head to a farmer’s market and see what’s being sold! You get to buy in-season AND buy local.
There are so many bright and delicious, vegetable-filled recipes you can make with your produce. And as you start trying out new produce options, you’ll have a chance to try new recipes!
Fruits and Vegetables in Season (Chart)
Find out which fruits and veggies are in season right now with this chart. Check by season, or month by month. Generally, produce is most abundant between April and October, but there are plenty of things growing through the winter as well.
| Season | Months | Vegetables | Fruits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | March April May | Asparagus, Carrots, Peas, Spinach, Lettuce, Kale, Swiss chard, Broccoli, Celery, Onions, Scallions, Cauliflower | Apricots, Avocados, Strawberries, Tomatoes |
| Summer | June July August | Summer Squash, Cucumbers, Corn, Green Beans, Onions, Carrots, Bell Peppers, Eggplant, Peas, Lettuce, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Zucchini | Berries, Tomatoes, Melon, Avocados, Apricots, Cherries, Peaches, Plums |
| Fall | September October November | Beets, Winter Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Beans, Radishes, Lettuce, Garlic, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots, Pumpkin, Peppers, Celery, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Kale, Green Beans, Onion, Fennel, Turnips | Apples, Tomatoes, Cranberries, Pears, Plums |
| Winter | December January February | Potatoes, Broccoli, Leeks, Cauliflower, Winter Squash, Beets, Onions, Carrots, Turnips, Brussels sprouts, Kale, Fennel, Radishes | Orange, Lemons, Grapefruits, |
Benefits of Eating Produce in Season
- Affordable: Eating the fruits and vegetables that are in season will give you the best-priced produce because it’s readily available, and it doesn’t have to travel far to get to your grocery store.
- Healthy: Veggies start to lose nutrients the older they get, so if you’re buying fresh seasonal produce, you’re going to get even more health benefits.
- Flavorful: Produce grown in season will be the freshest and most flavorful. Especially if you are buying at markets directly from local farms.
- Sustainable: Overall, buying and eating produce when it’s in season near you is better for the environment, for local farmers, and for the entire food ecosystem.
- Variety: Eating what’s in season will encourage you to try fruits and veggies you don’t usually eat, and to try new recipes. Variety is great for your health and for your taste buds!
Keep reading for full lists of fruits and vegetables broken down by season. Whether it’s currently Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter, you can see what’s in season right now.
Use whatever is available to make delicious roasted vegetables , sautéed veggies , grilled vegetables , or Air Fried veggies ! Or start blanching vegetables to freeze , so you can reap the benefits of seasonal produce all year-round.
Spring Vegetables and Fruits
What produce is in season in Spring? After a long winter, Spring welcomes more variety in produce. Asparagus and Spring peas are available, and lots of lettuce and greens start popping up early in the season. You can still find late winter veggies and you’ll start seeing more fruits and berries by late Spring.
- Asparagus
- Carrots
- Peas
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Kale
- Swiss Chard
- Apricots
- Avocados
- Broccoli
- Celery
- Onions
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
- Scallions
Summer Fruits and Vegetables
What produce is in season in summer? Lots of things can be grown around the country in the summer season, so you’ll have plenty of in-season produce to choose from. Generally, a lot of fruits and berries are readily available during the high summer months of July and August, and you should start seeing them as early as June. The best tomatoes are grown in late spring and throughout the summer (and into early fall), plus you can find peppers, corn, greens, and cucumbers.
- Berries (blackberries, raspberries, strawberries)
- Summer Squash
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Corn
- Melon (cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew)
- Green Beans
- Onion
- Bell Peppers
- Avocados
- Apricots
- Cherries
- Eggplant
- Peaches
- Plums
- Basil
Fall Fruits and Vegetables
What produce is in season during fall? Autumn is another season filled with great variety. In September through November you’ll see lots of heartier vegetables available, plus all the root vegetables that hold up to cooler weather. Early fall is prime time for apples, and you’ll start seeing lots of sweet potatoes, winter squash, and things like beets and carrots.
- Apples
- Beets
- Winter Squash ( butternut squash , acorn squash, pumpkins)
- Sweet Potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Radishes
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Garlic
- Beans
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Peppers
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Celery
- Cranberries
- Kale
- Green Beans
- Onions
- Fennel
- Pears
- Turnips
Winter Vegetables and Fruits
What produce is in season in the winter? Winter has less variety compared to summer, but there are still lots of vegetables you can find in-season. Root vegetables, cruciferous veggies, and hearty greens are readily available despite cold temperatures. You’ll also see lots of citrus fruits coming in from Southern states.
- Potatoes
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Leeks
- Citrus (oranges, lemons, grapefruit)
- Winter Squash
- Beets
- Onions
- Carrots
- Turnips
- Brussels Sprouts
- Kale
- Fennel
Now that you know what produce is in season right now, it’s easier to start buying and cooking seasonal fruits and vegetables, so you can take advantage of all the great benefits of eating with the seasons. Fresh, flavorful, healthy, and affordable produce–what could be better?
More Food Guides
Get to know your veggies, the best ways to cook them, and other useful kitchen skills to step up your cooking game!
How to Cut, Peel, and Prepare Butternut Squash for Cooking
How to Cook Asparagus 10 Ways – Asparagus Recipes
Essential Grocery List (How to stock your fridge and pantry)
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
How to Blanch Vegetables (to Cook or Freeze)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
