Finding Seasonal Produce: Summer

I've really been wanting to eat the freshest, local and organic produce possible. Purchasing fruit and veggies from regular grocers is just not cutting it -- the produce either goes bad right away, is already rotten or not rip enough to eat. Many food sellers have the same produce year round and I know not all produce is growing and ready to eat 365 days out of the year. Which means most of that produce is shipped here from other states and countries for our convenience.

I did a little research on produce in season right now. About.com has an amazing database of this stuff! You can even search by region to find what's in season.


Florida: Seasonal Produce

Florida is famous for its citrus, and rightly so. But plenty else grows in the Sunshine state, including plenty of tropical fruits. The tropical climate stretches the growing season year-round and makes Florida the source of winter produce for much of the Eastern U.S. Depending on your place in the state and this year's growing conditions, growing seasons and crop availability will vary. You can also look up produce by general/national seasons (spring, summer, fall, winter) or region.

Look for these summer fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets and in produce departments for the best flavor (and greatest value) in season. Specific crops and harvest dates will depend on your region’s climate.

Apples (late summer)
Apricots (early summer)
Avocados
Basil
Beets
Blackberries
Blueberries
Boysenberries
Cantaloupes
Carrots
Chard
Cherries
Chickpeas (a.k.a. garbanzo beans), fresh
Chiles, fresh
Corn
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Fennel (in cooler climates)
Figs
Garlic
Gooseberries
Grapes
Green beans
Green onions
Herbs
Huckleberries
Lemongrass
Lettuce (in cooler climates)
Limes
Mangoes
Marionberries
Melons
Nectarines
Okra
Onions
Peaches
Peas
Peppers
Plums & pluots
Potatoes
Radicchio (in cooler climates)
Radishes
Raspberries
Rhubarb (early summer)
Rosemary
Scallions
Shallots
Shelling beans
Spinach (in cooler climates)
Spring Onions (available in early summer in some areas)
Strawberries
Summer squash
Sweet Onions
Tomatillos
Tomatoes
Watermelons
Zucchini
Zucchini Blossoms

Mmmm... I ♥ produce!