An important part of eating locally and organically is making the effort to know what’s in season in your area. Although today's food system allows one to buy foods grown virtually anywhere, at any time, these options are not the most sustainable.
The seasonality of produces affects it’s ripeness, quality, taste, and nutritional values. When produce is picked in season, it means that there was most likely less pesticide use, less processing, less transportation, and less artificiality in the growing and harvesting processes.
Here you will find a list of fruits in season by month for Southern California. If you live elsewhere, the National Resources Defense Council offers lists of seasonal produce for every state, along with even more tips for eating locally. Simply go to http://www.simplesteps.org/eat-local .
Seasonal Produce for Southern California
January: Artichokes , Avocado, Beets, Blood Orange, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carambola, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard , Cherimoyas, Dates (Medjool), Grapefruit, Green Onion, Green Peas, Kale , Kohlrabi , Kumquats, Lemons, Mushroom, Mustard , Navel Orange, Passion Fruit, Strawberries , Tangelos, Tangerines
February: Artichokes, Avocado, Beets, Blood Orange, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots , Cauliflower, Celery, Chard , Collards, Dates (Medjool), Grapefruit, Green Onion, Green Peas, Kale , Kohlrabi , Kumquats, Lemons, Lettuce, Mushroom, Mustard , Navel Orange, Passion Fruit, Spinach, Strawberries , Tangelos, Tangerines, Turnips
March: Artichokes , Avocado, Beets, Blood Orange, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots , Cauliflower, Celery, Chard , Collards, Dates (Medjool), Grapefruit, Green Onion, Green Peas, Kale , Kohlrabi , Kumquats, Lemons, Lettuce, Mushroom, Mustard , Navel Orange, Passion Fruit, Spinach, Strawberries , Tangelos, Tangerines, Turnips
April: Artichokes , Avocado, Basil, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots , Cauliflower, Celery, Chard , Cherries , Collards, Cucumber, Dates (Medjool), Grapefruit, Green Beans, Green Onion, Green Peas, Kale , Kohlrabi , Kumquats, Lemons, Lettuce, Mushroom, Mustard , Navel Orange, Nectarines, Passion Fruit, Raspberries, Spinach, Strawberries , Tangelos, Tangerines, Tomatoes, Turnips
May: Apricots, Artichokes , Asian Pears, , Avocado, Basil, Beets, Black-eyed Peas, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots , Cauliflower, Celery, Chard , Cherries , Collards, Corn , Cucumber, Dates (Medjool), Eggplant, Figs, Grapefruit, Green Beans, Green Onion, Green Peas, Kale , Kohlrabi , Kumquats, Lemons, Lettuce, Mushroom, Mustard , Navel Orange, Nectarines, Okra , Onions , Passion Fruit, Peaches, Plums, Potatoes, Raspberries, Spinach, Strawberries , Summer squash, Tomatoes, Turnips, Valencia Oranges
June: Apricots, Artichokes, Asian Pears, , Avocado, Basil, Beets, Black-eyed Peas, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots , Cauliflower, Celery, Chard , Collards, Corn , Cucumber, Eggplant, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Green Beans, Green Onion, Kale , Kohlrabi , Kumquats, Lemons, Lettuce, Melons, Mushroom, Mustard , Navel Orange, Nectarines, Okra , Onions , Passion Fruit, Peaches, Pears, Peppers, Plums, Potatoes, Raspberries, Spinach, Strawberries , Summer squash, Tomatoes, Turnips, Valencia Oranges
July: Apples, Apricots, Artichokes, Asian Pears, , Avocado, Basil, Beets, Black-eyed Peas, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots , Cauliflower, Celery, Cherries , Collards, Corn , Cucumber, Eggplant, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Green Beans, Green Onion, Kale , Kohlrabi , Lemons, Lettuce, Melons, Mushroom, Mustard , Nectarines, Okra , Onions , Passion Fruit, Peaches, Pears, Peppers, Plums, Potatoes, Raspberries, Sapote, Spinach, Strawberries , Summer squash, Tomatoes, Turnips, Valencia Oranges
August: Apples, Artichokes, Asian Pears, , Avocado, Basil, Beets, Black-eyed Peas, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots , Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Pepper, Collards, Corn , Cucumber, Eggplant, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Green Beans, Green Onion, Kale , Kohlrabi , Lemons, Lettuce, Melons, Mushroom, Mustard , Nectarines, Okra , Onions , Passion Fruit, Peaches, Pears, Peppers, Persimmons, Plums, Potatoes, Raspberries, Sapote, Spinach, Strawberries , Summer squash, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Turnips, Valencia Oranges,
September: Apples, Artichokes, Asian Pears, , Avocado, Basil, Beets, Black-eyed Peas, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots , Celery, Chard , Chili Pepper, Collards, Corn , Cucumber, Eggplant, Grapefruit, Grapes, Green Beans, Green Onion, Guava, Kale , Kohlrabi , Lemons, Lettuce, Mushroom, Mustard , Nectarines, Okra , Onions , Passion Fruit, Peaches, Pears, Peppers, Persimmons, Pineapple, Plums, Potatoes, Raspberries, Sapote, Spinach, Strawberries , Summer squash, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Turnips, Valencia Oranges,
October: Apples, Artichokes , Asian Pears, , Avocado, Basil, Beets, Black-eyed Peas, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carambola, Carrots , Cauliflower, Celery, Chard , Cherimoyas, Chili Pepper, Collards, Corn , Cucumber, Eggplant, Grapefruit, Grapes, Green Beans, Green Onion, Guava, Kale , Kiwi, Kohlrabi , Lemons, Lettuce, Mushroom, Mustard , Okra , Onions , Passion Fruit, Peaches, Peppers, Persimmons, Pineapple, Pomegranates, Potatoes, Raspberries, Sapote, Spinach, Strawberries , Summer squash, Tangelos, Tangerines, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Turnips, Valencia Oranges, Yams
November: Apples, Artichokes, Basil, Beets, Black-eyed Peas, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carambola, Carrots , Cauliflower, Celery, Chard , Cherimoyas, Chili Pepper, Collards, Corn , Cucumber, Eggplant, Grapefruit, Grapes, Green Beans, Green Onion, Guava, Kale , Kiwi, Kohlrabi , Lemons, Lettuce, Mushroom, Mustard , Okra , Onions , Passion Fruit, Peaches, Peppers, Persimmons, Pineapple, Pomegranates, Potatoes, Raspberries, Sapote, Spinach, Summer squash, Tangelos, Tangerines, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Turnips, Valencia Oranges, Yams
December: Apples, Artichokes , Basil, Beets, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots , Cauliflower, Celery, Chard , Chili Pepper, Collards, Corn , Cucumber, Eggplant, Grapes, Green Beans, Green Onion, Guava, Kale , Kiwi, Kohlrabi , Lemons, Lettuce, Mushroom, Mustard , Okra , Onions , Peppers, Pineapple, Pomegranates, Potatoes, Spinach, Summer squash, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Turnips, Valencia Oranges, Yams
