Fruits & Vegetables That Are Only Good When They're In Season
As Seasons Change So Do Our Produce Choices
Some fruits and vegetables, like bananas or potatoes, are pretty much good any time of year. However, some are more seasonal both in their quality and in our enjoyment of them. Many of them even have a traditional place in our seasonal customs. Here are some seasonal fruits and vegetables that just aren't the same out of season.
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1. Peaches
There's nothing quite like a juicy and sweet late summer peach. Especially if you're in the Northeastern US or Canada, the season for perfect peaches is short, but that just makes it more special.
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2. Butternut Squash
Fall is the season characterized by cooler temperatures, trees changing color, and butternut squash in our shopping carts. This hearty root vegetable is at its best in the fall, and quite frankly, we don't want it any other time.
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3. Tomatoes
We're all too familiar with disappointing tomatoes that taste like nothing and have a sandy texture. This experience makes us appreciate even more that small window of time in the summer when tomatoes burst with flavor.
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4. Watermelon
Watermelon in the winter or at any other time than on a sweltering summer's day just seems wrong. It might be because this fruit is 90 percent water and our bodies need hydration in the heat, or maybe it's just a strong mental association that makes watermelon synonymous with pool party.
5. Cantaloupe
A lot of people dislike this fruit because they've only had it in sad tasteless fruit cups at the airport. However, when cantaloupes are in season in the summer, they're one of the best things on the planet.
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6. Cherries
There's a reason cherries are only available at grocery stores for about a month in mid-summer. They have a very short season that makes them extra special. Grab them while you can!
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7. Blackberries
If you've ever had a blackberry out of season you'll know how tart and unpleasant they can be. When they're in season in summer however, they're delightfully sweet, bursting with flavor, and beautiful with a ravishing deep purple color.
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8. Pumpkin
Nothing says fall quite like pumpkin spice lattes. This beautiful vegetable's peak is in October, making it one of the most iconic symbols of spooky season.
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9. Corn
Although corn is used in all kinds of foods in North and South America, we really only eat corn on the cob in summer, smothered in butter of course. Grilled on the barbecue, it gets sweet and nutty.
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10. Asparagus
Asparagus's day in the sun happens in Spring. When we see it on the grocery store shelves, it's a good indication that the seasons have turned and we can start welcoming warmer days.
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11. Leeks
One of few winter crops, leeks start poking out of the ground as the snow melts. They're delicious served in cheesy or creamy dishes like quiche or casserole.
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12. Pomegranate
A star of the fall harvest, this striking fruit makes an appearance from September through November. We love it in fall salads or just eaten by the spoon. Plus, it's an antioxidant-rich superfood that helps keep seasonal illnesses at bay.
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13. Clementines
Clemintines, accustomed to adorning holiday tables, are undeniably a winter fruit. Of course, they come from hotter climates like California so they're never really in season in places like New York, but that doesn't make them any less of a Christmas tradition.
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14. Rhubarb
This tart vegetable that looks like pink celery has a very short season in the late spring. Luckily, its peak time corresponds with strawberry season, a match made in heaven.
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15. Strawberries
Strawberries are commonly eaten year round, but nothing compares to the sweetness of an in-season one. Their season begins in late spring and continues well into the summer.
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17. Raspberries
Summer is the time of berries: just on the tail of strawberry season comes raspberry time. When they're at their peak, they're sweet, soft, and addictive.
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18. Pears
Pears make their debut in the fall, just in time to be included in the kiddos' lunchbags when they go back to school. The in-season pear is sweet and juicy and no longer has that unpleasant sandy texture that an out of season one sometimes has.
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19. Peas
You might associate green peas with the horrible squishy canned variety, but we're not talking about those. We're talking about fresh green peas. When they're in season in winter and spring they're firm with a slight natural sweetness.
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20. Grapefruit
Grapefruit is a polarizing fruit. If you don't like bitter or tart flavors it's probably not for you. However, when it's in season in late winter, it's notably sweeter and has a striking ruby-colored flesh.
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