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