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What does it mean to Eat Seasonally?

What is seasonal produce anyway?

 

I try to eat seasonal.  I don't know how easy it is for you to get local produce in winter.  For me, living high in the Sierra Nevada mountains, there's really not any "local" winter produce, Of course there's not really any "local" summer produce either, unless you count pine nuts.  However, we are only an hour and a half away from California's Central Valley, one of the world's most productive growing regions.

Fruit trees in California's Central Valley.  The valley yields 1/3 of the produce grown in the US.




The hard part about winter for me is that our local Farmer's Market shuts down in October and doesn't resume until late May.  

So I can't always eat local, but I do try to eat somewhat seasonally when I can.  It just makes sense. And of course, if you love food and cooking, you can often see the difference.  Seasonal produce is usually the stuff that looks the most vibrant and enticing.

Tangerines have been in the markets for several months now.
Right now, it's time for cruciferous, asparagus, citrus, winter greens and avocados (see seasonal chart below).  January is the month with the shortest list of seasonal produce for the year, but you know what...it's doable.  

One of the delights of eating seasonally is the pleasure one gets when new seasonal foods become available.

It's asparagus season in California!

Right now I'm loving my citrus.  And the asparagus I've had in the last week or two has been amazing.  (see my recipe for Asparagus with Tangerine Hollandaise in yesterday's posting).

Charts of California's produce by season:


January



February



March



April

Asparagus
Avocados
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carambola
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard
Cherimoyas
Citrus:
  Blood Orange,
  Grapefruit,
  Kumquats,
  Lemons,
  Navel Oranges,
  Tangelos/Tangerines 
Dates, Medjool
Kale
Kohlrabi
Mushroom
Mustard
Onion, Green
Passion Fruit
Peas, Green
Strawberries
Asparagus
Avocados
Beets
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard
Citrus:
  Blood Orange,
  Grapefruit,
  Kumquats,
  Lemons,
  Navel Oranges,
  Tangelos/Tangerines 
Collards
Dates, Medjool
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Mushroom
Mustard
Onion, Green
Passion Fruit
Peas, Green
Spinach
Strawberries
Turnips
Asparagus
Avocados
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard
Citrus:
  Blood Oranges,
  Grapefruits,
  Kumquats,
  Lemons,
  Navel Oranges,
  Tangelos/Tangerines
Collards
Dates, Medjool
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Mushroom
Mustard
Onion, Green
Passion Fruit
Peas, Green
Spinach
Strawberries
Turnips
Asparagus
Avocados
Basil
Beans, Green
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard
Cherries
Citrus:
  Grapefruits,
  Kumquats,
  Lemons,
  Navel Oranges,
  Tangelos/Tangerines 
Collards
Cucumber
Dates, Medjool
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Mushroom
Mustard
Nectarines
Onion, Green
Passion Fruit
Peas, Green
Raspberries
Spinach
Strawberries
Tomatoes
Turnips



May



June



July



August

Apricots
Asparagus
Avocados
Basil
Beans, Green
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard
Cherries
Citrus:
  Grapefruits,
  Kumquats,
  Lemons,
  Navel Oranges,
  Valencia Oranges      
Collards
Corn
Cucumber
Dates, Medjool
Eggplant
Figs
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Mushroom
Mustard
Nectarines,
Okra
Onion, dry
Onion, Green
Passion Fruit
Peaches
Pears, Asian
Peas, Black-eyed
Peas, Green
Plums
Potatoes
Raspberries
Spinach
Squash, Summer
Strawberries
Tomatoes
Turnips
Apricots
Avocados
Cherries
Asparagus
Basil
Beans, Green
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard
Citrus:
  Grapefruits,
  Kumquats,
  Lemons,
  Navel Oranges,
  Valencia Oranges
Collards
Corn
Cucumber
Eggplant
Figs
Grapes
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Melons
Mushroom
Mustard
Nectarines
Okra
Onion, dry
Onion, Green
Passion Fruit
Peaches
Pears
Pears, Asian
Peas, Black-eyed
Peppers
Plums
Potatoes
Raspberries
Spinach
Squash, Summer
Strawberries
Tomatoes
Turnips
Apples
Apricots
Asparagus
Avocados
Basil
Beans, Green
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Cherries
Citrus:
  Grapefruits,
  Lemons,
  Valencia Oranges      
Collards
Corn
Cucumber
Eggplant
Figs
Grapes
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Melons
Mushroom
Mustard
Nectarines
Okra
Onion, dry
Onion, Green
Passion Fruit
Peaches
Pears
Pears, Asian
Peas, Black-eyed
Peppers
Plums
Potatoes
Raspberries
Sapote
Spinach
Squash, Summer
Strawberries
Tomatoes
Turnips
Apples
Asparagus
Avocados
Basil
Beans, Green
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chili Pepper
Citrus:
  Grapefruits,
  Lemons,
  Valencia Oranges
Collards
Corn
Cucumber
Eggplant
Figs
Grapes
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Melons
Mushroom
Mustard
Nectarines
Okra
Onion, dry
Onion, Green
Passion Fruit
Peaches
Pears
Pears, Asian
Peas, Black-eyed
Peppers
Persimmons
Plums
Potatoes
Raspberries
Sapote
Spinach
Squash, Summer
Squash, Winter
Strawberries
Tomatillos
Tomatoes
Turnips



September



October



November



December

Apples
Asparagus
Avocados
Basil
Beans, Green
Beets
Brussels Sprout
Cabbage
Carrots
Celery
Chili Pepper
Citrus:
  Grapefruits,
  Lemons,
  Valencia Oranges     
Oranges
Collards
Corn
Cucumber
Eggplant
Grapes
Guava, Pineapple
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Mushroom
Mustard
Nectarines
Okra
Onion, dry
Onion, Green
Passion Fruit
Peaches
Pears
Pears, Asian
Peas, Black-eyed
Peppers
Persimmons
Plums
Potatoes
Raspberries
Sapote
Spinach
Squash, Summer
Squash, Winter
Strawberries
Tomatillos
Tomatoes
Turnips
Apples
Asparagus
Avocados
Basil
Beans, Green
Beets
Broccoli
Brussels Sprout
Cabbage
Carambola
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard
Cherimoyas
Chili Pepper
Citrus:
  Grapefruits,
  Lemons,
  Tangelos/Tangerines,
  Valencia Oranges
Collards
Corn
Cucumber
Eggplant
Grapes
Guava, Pineapple
Kale
Kiwi
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Mushroom
Mustard
Okra
Onion, dry
Onion, Green
Passion Fruit
Peaches
Pears, Asian
Peas, Black-eyed
Peppers
Persimmons
Pomegranates
Potatoes
Raspberries
Sapote
Spinach
Squash, Summer
Squash, Winter
Strawberries
Tomatillos
Tomatoes
Turnips
Yams
Apples
Artichokes
Asparagus
Basil
Beans, Green
Beets
Broccoli
Brussels Sprout
Cabbage
Carambola
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard
Cherimoyas
Chili Pepper
Citrus:
  Grapefruits,
  Lemons,
  Tangelos/Tangerines,
  Valencia Oranges
Collards
Corn
Cucumber
Eggplant
Grapes
Guava, Pineapple
Kale
Kiwi
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Mushroom
Mustard
Okra
Onion, dry
Onion, Green
Passion Fruit
Peaches
Peas, Black-eyed
Peppers
Persimmons
Pomegranates
Potatoes
Raspberries
Sapote
Spinach
Squash, Summer
Squash, Winter
Tomatillos
Tomatoes
Turnips
Yams
Artichokes
Basil
Beans, Green
Beets
Brussels Sprout
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard
Chili Pepper
Citrus:
  Lemons,
  Valencia Oranges       
Collards
Corn
Cucumber
Eggplant
Grapes
Guava, Pineapple
Kale
Kiwi
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Mushroom
Mustard
Okra
Onion, dry
Onion, Green
Peppers
Pomegranates
Potatoes
Spinach
Squash, Summer
Squash, Winter
Tomatillos
Tomatoes
Turnips
Yams

Source:  Southland Farmer's Market Association (California-based)

Winter greens, tangerines and avocados!  Even January can be a delicious month!!

Follow Sue Pipal, Master Gardener and Chef at Eat Thrive Heal