Walking through the farmers markets is the perfect way to see exactly what’s in season in your local area, and tt’s a great way to re-connect with nature and the seasons.
Eating seasonally usually goes hand-in-hand with eating locally. Eating seasonally and locally is important because that usually means you are getting local, fresh produce, supporting your local farmers and are eating foods that your body needs for the weather at that time of year.
The best way to eat seasonally is by buying your produce at the farmers market. By definition, the farmers markets is where farmers from your area rent out stall to sell the produce they have picked in the few days. I am lucky enough to live in a sunny part of South East Queensland, where all kinds of fresh produce grows year round, and the farmers markets are on every Saturday – rain, hail or shine.
In some parts of the world the farmers markets are only on in certain seasons, which means shopping at the supermarket. This list of produce thats in season will help guide you through the farmers markets or supermarket. Also be sure to check the price label on produce as it usually shows you where the produce was grown – they have to do this by law here in Australia, but I suspect it’s not law everywhere (in which case this list is more handy).
Avoid any foods grown in other countries and imported. Imported produce is usually picked before ripe (to make it store longer) and has also likely taken up to several weeks to reach your local store, resulting in produce that’s lacking in nutrients. Other countries also have very different laws and requirements for growing produce, use different chemicals and pesticides and have different cleanliness standards (which is why you should never buy produce from China in particular).
Go straight to the Seasonal Produce for May lists below for North America, Australia and the UK.
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North America
Last month of Spring.
This is a general list for North America, for a list specific to your state, check out this handy dandy guide.
Vegetables
- Vegetables
- Artichoke
- Asparagus
- Avocado
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Leafy Greens
- Lettuce
- Peas
- Radishes
- Rhubarb
- Spinach
- Zucchini
Fruit
- Blood Oranges
- Grapefruit
- Kiwi fruit
- Pineapple
- Strawberries
Australia
Last month of Autumn.
Vegetables
- Asian greens – Bok choy
- Avocado
- Beetroot
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Capsicums
- Celeriac
- Celery
- Eggplant
- Fennel
- Leeks
- Mushrooms
- Okra
- Parsnip
- Potatoes
- Pumpkin
- Silverbeet
- Spinach
- Squash
- Tomato
- Turnip
- Zucchini
Fruit
- Apples
- Bananas
- Custard Apples
- Grapes
- Kiwfruit
- Lemons
- Mandarins
- Passionfruit
- Pears
- Pomegranates
- Persimmons
- Quinces
Nuts
- Hazelnut
- Peanuts
- Walnut
UK
Last month of Spring.
Vegetables
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Cucumber
- Kohlrabi
- Lettuce
- Onions
- Pak Choy
- Peppers
- Potatoes
- Radish
- Rhubarb
- Rocket
- Spinach
- Spring onions
- Tomatoes
- Watercress
Fruit
- Strawberries
Sources: Taste.com.au, SBS Food, Eat the Seasons, Eat the Season UK, Eat Seasonably
What’s in season in your local area that you are loving?
I’m loving the avocado’s here are the moment, they are divine! And the beautifully colored eggplants (pictured above) make an amazing lasagna. I’m looking forward to picking up some brussel sprouts this weekend (doesn’t that sentence just tell you how much of a food nerd I am?).
Leave me a comment below 