Here's a list of local food you'll find in season throughout the year in Northeast Florida.
Ever wonder why you can't find strawberries at the Farmers' Market mid-summer, while the rest of the country seems to be gobbling them down for the 4th of July? The short answer is: July in Northeast Florida is just too hot for them to grow. The same is true for lettuce, arugula, kale and many leafy greens we crave in the hottest months. Understanding our seasons and what local farms are able to grow throughout the year is a really important consideration in eating local. Knowing what will be available at farmers' markets, season by season, helps consumers plan for changes in their menus to accommodate varying harvests. Our most bountiful seasons in Northeast Florida are spring, winter and fall, but even in the summer -- when temperatures soar and crops are less abundant -- there are ample resources for those committed to eating local and willing to get adventurous in trying new things, like malabar spinach, sweet potato greens or okra (made at least a five ways). If you're looking to expand your repertoire of fresh eats, it's never a bad idea to ask your local farmer: what can I expect to see at the market next week? The answer might just surprise you.
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JANUARY - FEBRUARY
Produce
Arugula, Beans, Beets, Blood Oranges, Bok Choy, Braising mix, Broccoli, Broccoli Raab, Brussels Sprouts, Butternut squash, Cabbage, Calamondins, Carrots, Cauliflower, Chard, Chestnuts, Chinese Spinach, Chives, Cilantro, Collards, Cress, Curry Leaf, Dill, Endive, Escarole, Fennel, Grapefruits, Green onions, Kale, Kohlrabi, Kumquats, Lemons, Lettuce, Limes, Loquats, Microgreens, Mizuna, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Napa cabbage, Onions, Oranges, Oregano, Parsley, Pomelos, Pumpkins, Radicchio, Radishes, Rosemary, Rutabagas, Salad mix, Satsumas, Sorrel (red veined), Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Strawberries, Swiss Chard, Tangelos, Tangerines, Thyme, Turnips, Winter squash
Seafood
Amberjack, Catfish, Cobia, Drum, Flounder, Grouper, Mahi-Mahi, Oysters, Pompano, Snapper, Striped Bass, Tuna, Wahoo
MARCH - APRIL
Produce
Arugula, Basil, Beans, Beets, Blueberries, Bok choy, Broccoli, Broccoli raab, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Chives, Cilantro, Collards, Corn, Cress, Cucumbers, Daikon radishes, Dill, Endive, Escarole, Fennel, Garlic chives, Grapefruit, Green onions, Kale, Kohlrabi, Kumquats, Leeks, Loquats, Mizuna, Mulberries, Mushrooms, Mustard greens, Nasturtium flowers, Onions, Oregano, Parsley, Peas, Potatoes, Radicchio, Radishes, Rosemary, Rutabagas, Salad mix, Sorrel (red veined), Spinach, Strawberries, Swiss chard, Thyme, Turnips
Seafood
Amberjack, Bass, Bluegill, Catfish, Cobia, Crappie, Drum, Flounder, Lionfish, Mackerel (King and Spanish), Mullet, Pompano, Shrimp (March only), Snapper, Stone Crab, Sunfish, Triggerfish, Tuna, Wahoo
MAY-JUNE
Produce
Basil, Beans, Beets, Blackberries, Blueberries, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccoli Raab, Cabbage, Cantaloupe, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Chives, Cilantro, Collards, Corn, Cucumbers, Curry Leaf, Daikon Radishes, Dill, Eggplant, Kale, Lemongrass, Marjoram, Mint, Mizuna, Moringa, Mulberries, Mushrooms, Nasturtium Flowers, Nectarines, Okinawa Spinach, Okra, Onions, Oregano, Pawpaw, Peaches, Peanuts, Peas, Peppers, Potatoes, Radishes, Rosemary, Salad Mix, Shiso, Thyme, Tomatoes, Turnips, Red Orach, Watermelon
Seafood
Black Sea Bass, Blueline Tilefish, Flounder, Golden Tilefish, Gray Triggerfish, Greater Amberjack, King and Spanish Mackerel, Mahi-Mahi, Pompano, Red Porgy, Shallow Water Grouper, Shrimp (June only), Snowy Grouper, Vermilion Snapper, Wahoo
JULY-AUGUST
Produce
Basil, Beans, Blackberries, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Che (Chinese Mullberry), Chives, Corn, Cucumbers, Curry Leaf, Eggplant, Feijoa (Pineapple Guava), Figs, Garlic chives, HotPeppers, Jute/Molokhia/Egyptian Spinach, Lemon grass, Luffa/Chinese Okra, Marjoram, Mint, Moringa, Muscadine Grapes, Nectarines, Okinawa spinach, Okra, Oregano, Pawpaw, Peaches, Peanuts, Pears, Peppers, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Rosemary, Shiso (Perilla frutescens), Summer Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Thyme, Tomatoes, Watermelon, Zucchini
Seafood
Amberjack, Black Sea Bass, Bluefish, Cobia, Flounder, Grouper, Hogfish, King Mackerel, Mahi, Pompano, Red Drum, Sheepshead, Shrimp, Triggerfish, Vermilion Snapper
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER
Produce
Avocados, Basil, Beans, Bok Choy, Callaloo, Chestnuts, Chives, Collards, Cucumbers, Daikon Radish, Eggplant, Field Peas, Garlic Chives, Grapefruit, Hot Peppers, Japanese Eggplant, Marjoram, Mint, Muscadine Grapes, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Nectarines, Okinawa and Malabar Spinach, Okra, Oregano, Painted Corn, Papalo, Parsley, Pears, Pecans, Peppers, Persimmons, Pomegranates, Pumpkin (Seminole), Radishes, Roselle Hibiscus, Rosemary, Shiso, Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Thyme, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watermelon
Seafood
Groupers, Shrimp, Snook, Black Sea Bass, Vermilion Snapper, Greater Amberjack, Red Porgy, Mackerel, Tilefish, Gray Triggerfish, Wahoo, Sheepshead
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER
Produce
Arugula, Beans, Beets, Bok choy, Braising mix, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Butternut squash, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Chestnuts, Cilantro, Chinese Spinach, Chives, Collards, Cucumbers, Endive/escarole, Fennel, Grapefruit, Green onions, Hot peppers, Kale, Kumquats, Lemons, Lettuce, Limes, Mizuna, Mushrooms, Mustard greens, Napa
cabbage, Okra, Onions, Oranges, Pecans, Persimmons, Pommelos, Pumpkins, Purslane, Radicchio, Radishes, Rutabagas, Salad mix, Satsumas, Scallions, Sorrel, Spinach,Sunchokes, Sweet peppers, Sweet potatoes, Swiss chard, Tangelos, Tangerines, Turnips, Winter squash
Seafood
Alligator, Bass, Clams, Cobia, Drum, Grouper, Mullet, Oysters, Pompano, Snapper, Shrimp, Spanish Mackerel, Sea Trout, Spiny Lobster, Stone Crab Claws, Swordfish, Tilapia,Wahoo
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Information provided by Florida Department of Agriculture, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and other sources.
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