When you use fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs, you don’t have to do much to make them taste great. Although many fruits, vegetables, and herbs are available year-round, you’ll get better flavor and prices when you buy what’s in season. This guide helps you choose the best produce so you can create tasty meals all year long.
spring
FRUITS
Bananas
Blood oranges
Coconuts
Grapefruit
Kiwifruit
Lemons
Limes
Mangoes
Navel oranges
Papayas
Passion fruit
Pineapples
Strawberries
Tangerines
Valencia oranges
VEGETABLES
Artichokes
Arugula
Asparagus
Avocados
Baby leeks
Beets
Belgian endive
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Dandelion greens
Fava beans
Green peas
Kale
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Radishes
Red potatoes
Rhubarb
Scallions
Snap beans
Snow peas
Spinach
Sugar snap peas
Sweet onions
Swiss chard
HERBS
Chives
Dill
Garlic chives
Lemongrass
Mint
Parsley
Thyme
summer
FRUITS
Apricots
Blackberries
Blueberries
Boysenberries
Cantaloupes
Casaba melons
Cherries
Crenshaw melons
Figs
Grapes
Guava
Honeydew melons
Mangoes
Nectarines
Papayas
Peaches
Plums
Raspberries
Strawberries
Watermelons
VEGETABLES
Avocados
Beans: snap, pole, and shell
Beets
Bell peppers
Cabbage
Carrots
Celery
Chile peppers
Collards
Corn
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Green beans
Jicama
Lima beans
Okra
Pattypan squash
Peas
Radicchio
Radishes
Summer squash
Tomatoes
HERBS
Basil
Bay leaves
Borage
Chives
Cilantro
Dill
Lavender
Lemon balm
Marjoram
Mint
Oregano
Rosemary
Sage
Summer savory
Tarragon
Thyme
fall
FRUITS
Apples
Cranberries
Figs
Grapes
Pears
Persimmons
Pomegranates
Quinces
VEGETABLES
Belgian endive
Bell peppers
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Eggplant
Escarole
Fennel
Frisée
Leeks
Mushrooms
Parsnips
Pumpkins
Red potatoes
Rutabagas
Shallots
Sweet potatoes
Winter squash
Yukon Gold potatoes
HERBS
Basil
Bay leaves
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Tarragon
Thyme
winter
FRUITS
Apples
Blood oranges
Cranberries
Grapefruit
Kiwifruit
Kumquats
Lemons
Limes
Mandarin oranges
Navel oranges
Pears
Persimmons
Pomegranates
Pomelos
Tangelos
Tangerines
Quinces
VEGETABLES
Baby turnips
Beets
Belgian endive
Brussels sprouts
Celery root
Escarole
Fennel
Frisée
Jerusalem artichokes
Kale
Leeks
Mushrooms
Parsnips
Potatoes
Rutabagas
Sweet potatoes
Turnips
Watercress
Winter squash