I’ve switched to more of a plant-based diet for my health and I’m loving it. Occasionally, I still consume fish and seafood or a little chicken, but I’ve found great plant-based substitutes for chicken and beef at Deliciou (www.deliciou.com) an Australian company that makes products to help you enjoy plant-based meals. They make the most incredible vegan bacon and vegan cheese seasonings I’ve ever tried.
I’m not the designated grocery shopper during the pandemic, so I was a bit worried about asking for lesser-known fruits and vegetables, but the transition has gone smoothly thanks to Imperfect Foods (www.imperfectfoods.com) where I can select fresh produce, fish, and many vegan products. There are several companies that deliver fresh produce to your door, but I like Imperfect because their boxes aren’t weight-based, so if I want to order a spaghetti squash or a watermelon, I’m not using half my allowance. Local Farmer’s Markets are still the best ways to get fresh produce, but it’s winter during a pandemic.
Even if you have no desire to become a vegetarian or adopt a vegan lifestyle, incorporating even one meatless day into your weekly menu can be healthier and good for the planet.
Buying produce in season is less expensive and it will be fresher, so I’ve made lists of what’s in season in Pennsylvania, produce from around the world by season, and produce that’s always in season to help you save a little money and plan delicious and nutritious meals.
What’s in Season in Pennsylvania:
January and February – apples, celery, horseradish, mushrooms, potatoes, rapini, salsify, shallots, sprouts, sunchokes, and turnips
March – Apples, chives, horseradish, mint, morels, mushrooms, nettles, oregano, sage, potatoes, sprouts
April – apples, asparagus, tomatoes, watercress, spinach, sprouts, tarragon, ramps, sage, sorrel, pea shoots, potatoes, purslane, nettles oregano, parsnips. Morels, mushrooms, mint, fiddleheads, horseradish, lamb’s quarters, thyme, rosemary
May – Apples, arugula, asparagus, Chard, cabbage, chives, cilantro. Fava beans, fiddleheads, Garlic Scapes, Lamb’s quarters, green onions, lettuce, mint, morels, mushrooms, nettles, onions, oregano, parsley, parsnips, pea shoots, peas, purslane, rhubarb, radishes, ramps, rosemary, sage, sorrel, spinach, sprouts, tarragon, thyme, tomatoes, watercress, collard greens.
June - Apples, arugula, asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Chard, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro. Fava beans, Garlic Scapes, Cherries, Chili Peppers, Kale, Kohlrabi, Mustard Greens, Lamb’s quarters, green onions, lettuce, mint, mushrooms, onions, Snap Peas, Snow Peas, oregano, parsley, parsnips, pea shoots, peas, purslane, Strawberries, rhubarb, radishes, rosemary, sage, spinach, sprouts, tarragon, thyme, tomatoes, watercress, collard greens, and Tomatillos, ground cherries, gooseberries, Summer Squash.
July – Apples, apricots, arugula, Basil, beets, broccoli, cabbage cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, cherries, chili peppers, chives, cilantro, Collard Greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, gooseberries, green beans, green onions, ground cherries, kale, kohlrabi, Lamb’s Quarters, lavender, lettuce, lima beans, melons, mint, mustard greens, onions, mushrooms, oregano, parsley, peaches, peppers, purslane, radishes, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, sage, shallots, shell beans, Snap Peas, Snow Peas, Sprouts, Summer Squash, sunchokes, thyme, Tomatillos, tomatoes, watercress, watermelon, and zucchini, blueberries, okra.
August - Apples, arugula, Basil, beets, blackberries, blueberries Bok Choy, Brambles, cabbage, cantaloupes, carrots, celery, chard, chili peppers, chives, cilantro, Collard Greens, corn, cucumbers, Currants, eggplant, garlic, green beans, green onions, ground cherries, kale, Lamb’s Quarters, lavender, Leeks, lettuce, lima beans, melons, mint, mustard greens, mushrooms, nectarines, okra, onions, oregano, parsley, peaches, pears, peppers, plums, potatoes, purslane, radishes, raspberries, rosemary, rutabaga, sage, shell beans, Snap Peas, Snow Peas, Sprouts, Summer Squash, Sweet Potatoes, thyme, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Turnips, watermelon, and zucchini.
September - Apples, arugula, Basil, beets, blueberries Bok Choy, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, celery, celery root, chard, Chicories, chili peppers, chives, cilantro, Collard Greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, Endive, garlic, grapes, green beans, green onions, ground cherries, kale, Kohlrabi, Lamb’s Quarters, lavender, Leeks, lettuce, lima beans, melons, mustard greens, mushrooms, nectarines, okra, onions, parsley, peaches, pears, peppers, plums, potatoes, pumpkin, purslane, radicchio, raspberries, rosemary, rutabaga, shell beans, Snap Peas, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Sprouts, Summer Squash, Sweet Potatoes, thyme, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Turnips, watermelon, Winter Squash, and zucchini.
October - Apples, Beets, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, cabbage, cardoons, carrots, cauliflower, celery, celery root, chard, Chicories, chives, cilantro, Collard Greens, corn, cranberries, eggplant, Endive, Fennel, horseradish, kale, Leeks, mustard greens, mushrooms, parsley, parsnips, pears, peppers, potatoes, pumpkin, purslane, Quince, radicchio, rapini, rosemary, rutabaga, salsify, shell beans, Sorrel, Spinach, Sprouts, Summer Squash, thyme, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Turnips, watermelon, Winter Squash.
November - Apples, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, cabbage, cardoons, carrots, cauliflower, celery, celery root, chard, cilantro, Collard Greens, cranberries, Fennel, horseradish, kale, Leeks, mustard greens, mushrooms, parsley, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkin, Quince, rapini, rosemary, rutabaga, salsify, Sprouts, thyme, tomatoes, Turnips, Winter Squash.
December - Apples, Beets, Brussels Sprouts, cabbage, cardoons, carrots, celery, cranberries, horseradish, Leeks, mushrooms, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkin, rapini, salsify, Shallots Sprouts, Tomatoes, Turnips, Winter Squash.
Produce from Around the world by season
Winter:
Belgian Endive, Brussels Sprouts, Buttercup Squash, Cactus Pear, Cardoon, Clementine, Collard Greens, Date Plums, Dates, Delicata Squash, Grapefruit, Kale, Kiwifruit, Leeks, Mandarin Oranges, Maradol Papaya, Oranges, Passion Fruit, Pear, Persimmons, Pomegranate, Pummelo, Red Banana, Red Currants, Sharon Fruit, Sweet Dumpling Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Tangerines, Turnips
Spring: Apricots, Artichokes, Asparagus, Barbados Cherries, Belgian Endive, Bitter Melon, Butter lettuce, Collard Greens, Corn, Fava Beans, Honeydew Melon, Jackfruit, Lime, Mango, Manoa Lettuce, Morel Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Oranges, Peas, Pineapple, Purple Asparagus, Radicchio, Red Leaf Lettuce, Rhubarb, Snow Peas, Spinach, Strawberries, Swiss Chard, Vidalia Onions, Watercress, and White Asparagus
Summer: Anaheim Peppers, Apricots, Asian Pears, Beets, Bell Peppers, Black Currants, Blueberries, Blackberries, Boysenberries, Breadfruit, Butter Lettuce, Cantaloupe, Casaba Melon, Champagne Grapes, Cherries (Sweet, sour, and Rainier), Cucumber, Eggplant, Endive, French Beans, Figs, Garlic, Grape tomatoes, Green Beans, Grapefruit, Edamame, Hearts of Palm, Honeydew Melon, Jackfruit, Jalapeno Peppers, Limes, Key Limes, Lima Beans, Mulberries, Melons, Nectarines, Okra, Passion Fruit, Peaches, Peas, Plums, Radishes, Raspberries, Shallots, Strawberries, Sugar Snap Peas, Summer Squash, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Watermelon, Yellow Potatoes, and Zucchini.
Fall: Acorn Squash, Asian Pears, Barbados cherries, Belgian Endive, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Butter Lettuce, Buttercup & Butternut Squash, Cactus Pear, gooseberries, Cauliflower, Crab Apples, Cranberries, Date Plums, Delicata Squash, Endive, Garlic, Ginger, Grapes, Guava, Hearts of Palm, Jalapeno Peppers, Jerusalem Artichokes, Key Limes, Kohlrabi, Kumquats, Muscadine Grapes, Mushrooms Spinach, Passion Fruit, Pear, Persimmons, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Pumpkin, Quince, Radicchio, Sunflower Kernels, Sweet Potatoes, Swiss Chard, and Turnips.
Produce in Season All Year Long:
Apricots (dried), Avocados, Bananas, Banana Squash, Bell Peppers, Black Eyed Peas, Black Radish, Bok Choy, Broccoflower, Broccolini, Cabbage, Carrots, Cranberries (dried), Celery Root, Celery, Cherry Tomatoes, Chinese eggplant, Coconut, Dandelion Greens, Leek, Lemons, Lettuce, mushrooms, olives, onions, papayas, parsnips, pearl onions, potatoes, rutabagas, salad savoy, snow peas, Wasabi root.
