Many people enjoy produce out of season. Eating out of season is certainly better than going without fruits and vegetables, but there is much to be said for enjoying produce in season. The produce tastes better, is fresher and has higher nutritional content; it's also cheaper. If you are the experimental type, you can have a lot of fun by focusing on in-season produce. In North America, certain fruits and vegetables aren't in season year-round. You'll need to wait until the appropriate season for other produce, but your local farmers market should have plenty of tasty, seasonal organic food to keep the kitchen adventures going.

Year-Round

The group Fruits & Veggies-More Matters has a comprehensive website listing seasonal produce. Fortunately, quite a few (more than a few, really!) goodies are listed for year-round pleasure. They include:

• Apples
• Carrots
• Potatoes
• Lemons
• Snow peas
• Coconut
• Banana squash
• Bananas

If a fruit is out of season in your part of the country, it is likely in season elsewhere in the United States. For instance, in California, apples are in season from approximately July to November. The sheer diversity of the United States means that some produce is in season in different parts of the country at different times. California is a good guideline for the rest of this article. After all, this state tops the list for agricultural production. Of course, factors such as weather can, at times, push the seasonality of produce a month forward or backward. The following list is divided into months, but many of the fruits and vegetables are in season for at least a month or two on both sides of the listed month.

Winter

It may seem like nothing grows in the winter, but that's absolutely not true. Some seasonal produce thrives in the winter time, such as dark and leafy kale or asparagus. Enjoy winter produce by incorporating it into hearty soups and stews, flavorful casseroles or comforting desserts.

November

• Apples
• Asparagus
• Green beans
• Carrots
• Corn
• Cucumber
• Grapefruits
• Grapes
• Mushrooms
• Yams

December

• Beets
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Dry onions
• Green onions
• Guava
• Kale
• Kiwis
• Pineapples
• Summer squash
• Valencia oranges
• Winter squash

January

• Asparagus
• Avocados
• Cabbage
• Green peas
• Mustard
• Navel oranges
• Strawberries
• Passion fruit

February

• Avocados
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Celery
• Collards
• Kumquats
• Lemons
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Turnips
• Tangelos
• Tangerines

Spring

With the start of spring, the amount of produce in season begins to expand. We shed some of those comforting dishes of fall and winter, and opt for meals that are fresher and brighter. Think buddha bowls, colorful stir fries and yummy granola parfaits.

March

• Asparagus
• Avocados
• Blood Oranges
• Chard
• Grapefruits
• Green onions
• Medjool dates
• Kohlrabi
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Strawberries
• Turnips

April

• Basil
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Cherries
• Cucumber
• Lettuce
• Mushrooms
• Nectarines
• Passion fruit
• Raspberries
• Spinach
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes
• Turnips

May

• Apricots
• Asian pears
• Beets
• Black-eyed peas
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Corn
• Dry onions
• Eggplant
• Figs
• Okra
• Peaches
• Plums
• Potatoes
• Raspberries
• Summer squash

Summer

Summer is often the major harvest season. Fruits are plenty and the heat can influence what we cook or make in the kitchen. To keep temperatures in your home cool, opt for nutritious green breakfast smoothies or overnight oats, hearty salads or other raw plant-based dishes. Don't forget to fire up the grill and head to the park or beach for some good food and good times.

June

• Apricots
• Avocados
• Cherries
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Corn
• Grapefruits
• Lemons
• Melons
• Mushrooms
• Mustard
• Navel oranges
• Nectarines
• Okra
• Peppers
• Plums
• Potatoes
• Raspberries
• Valencia oranges

July

• Apples
• Apricots
• Asparagus
• Avocados
• Basil
• Cherries
• Cucumber
• Eggplant
• Figs
• Grapes
• Melons
• Peaches
• Pears
• Peppers
• Plums
• Potatoes
• Sapote
• Spinach
• Summer squash
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes
• Turnips

August

• Avocados
• Basil
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Chili pepper
• Grapefruits
• Collards
• Figs
• Grapes
• Green beans
• Kale
• Kohlrabi
• Lettuce
• Melons
• Mustard
• Nectarines
• Okra
• Persimmons
• Plums
• Potatoes
• Raspberries
• Sapote
• Spinach
• Tomatillos
• Tomatoes
• Turnips
• Winter squash

Fall

There's more to fall than pumpkins (and pumpkin spice for that matter). Root vegetables such as sweet potatoes and beets are some of our best friends for the season. We also love apple everything this time of year from apple pies, to crumbles to crispy apple chips. Fall's seasonal produce really ushers us back into our kitchens to cook and bake all things warm and fuzzy.

September

• Apples
• Asian pears
• Beets
• Brussels sprouts
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Celery
• Chili pepper
• Dry onions
• Oranges
• Collards
• Corn
• Cucumber
• Grapes
• Green onions
• Guava
• Kale
• Nectarines
• Okra
• Passion fruit
• Peaches
• Pears
• Peppers
• Persimmons
• Pineapples
• Plums
• Potatoes
• Raspberries
• Sapote
• Strawberries
• Tomatillos
• Tomatoes
• Turnips

October

• Avocados
• Basil
• Cabbage
• Carambola
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Cherimoyas
• Chili pepper
• Grapefruits
• Eggplant
• Grapes
• Kale
• Kiwi
• Kohlrabi
• Lemons
• Lettuce
• Mushrooms
• Mustard
• Okra
• Pumpkins
• Pomegranates
• Potatoes
• Raspberries
• Sapote
• Spinach
• Strawberries
• Tomatillos
• Tomatoes
• Turnips
• Yams

Now get exploring; there's no time like the present to enjoy in-season produce!

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