As the Northern Hemisphere enters the hottest months of summer, the change in seasonal produce has become quite obvious. The fruits that had a prominent impact in the Spring are long gone, and the fruits that will be important in the Autumn have just started growing, not yet ready for harvest. Why are fruits and vegetables seasonal? What produce is in season now? What are some tips to remember when I go grocery shopping? Read on.

Famous fruits that grow in your area fluctuate from time to time. In one or two seasons, they might be heavily advertised and held by many vendors. In the other seasons, they are barely mentioned. As plants experience their lifestyles, some are genetically built to sprout and grow fruit at different times of the year. Since most plants take time to grow, August and September have the largest and most diverse set of produce. The two months exist at the crossover from summer to autumn, meaning that the crops that grew in the spring, the summer, and what will start being harvested, what grew in the autumn.These fluctuations in product influence how big companies organize their menus.

Even though preservatives are starting to make the idea of “seasonal produce” a myth, companies still have to pay attention to the fame and cravings that go behind each fruit and vegetable. One example is the Pumpkin Spice Latte. It can be found at many different branches of large companies, and even in small cafes or someone’s own home. The flavor has become extremely famous. According to many influencers, it is among the “best-tasting drinks” of all time. Why am I bringing this up? Well, PSLs are normally only available in autumn and a part of winter. It is a seasonal flavor. This adds to the craze behind it. The knowledge that you won’t be able to buy this drink for more than half the year promotes you to go buy it more often than you would any other drink. Modern day companies are able to make advertisements out of anything, including seasons!

At the beginning of the year, it is peak winter. Throughout the late winter months, citrus fruits are the freshest and most commonly grown locally. This includes grapefruit, lemons, and oranges, and tangerines. Turnips, radishes, and rutabagas are also prominent in the winter seasons. Farmers have learned that some root vegetables do extremely well during the late winter, while some are at their extreme worst. As the months go by and we enter the spring. Spring is known for many beans and ferns. Any plant that falls into either category does exceptionally well in the spring. Some flower plants start to do well, but these come into play later in the summer. Speaking of summer, some of the most common and loved fruits are at their healthiest during the summer. Blackberries, blueberries, nectarines, peaches, plums, raspberries, and watermelon are at their peak. During autumn, a brand new set of fruits are in season. Apples, cranberries, figs, pears, and squash are notable examples of these fruits. What isn’t surprising, is that these fruits are the most common during American Thanksgiving, which is a famous holiday in autumn. It makes sense that the traditional foods that are eaten on that day are foods that were originally harvested on the first Thanksgiving over 400 years ago.

Although the choice of fruit and vegetable is the more important factor on deciding what to eat, what shouldn’t be forgotten is the preparation style. During the winter, what is the better choice, a cold citrus salad or a hearty potato stew? On most occasions, the warm potato stew will be a better choice. During the summer, would you rather have a peach pie or yogurt and granola with figs? The dairy from the yogurt is important to have if you are going to be out and about on a nice, warm day. Keep in mind that refreshing and rehydrating dishes are extremely important during the summer, especially in areas that get extremely hot.

Your food choices always play a big role in your life. But what should be remembered is that your food plan should be composite. You should know what you need to eat to be healthy for the different seasons, and sometimes even different weather might play a role in what you feel comfortable eating. Stay healthy!

Sources:
https://www.goodto.com/food/seasonal-food-calendar-71128
https://extension.psu.edu/fruit-and-vegetable-marketing-for-small-scale-and-part-time-growers
http://www.jandjfoods.com/list-of-peak-seasons-for-fruits-and-veggie