Rain and bright sunny days make spring a good time to indulge in a wide range of plentiful produce such as asparagus, cabbage, kale, spinach, and strawberries. Not only are these items extremely fresh and flavorful because they’re currently in season, but they’re also widely discounted because of the abundance of supply based on this time of year. Show
Because fruits and vegetables grow in cycles and ripen during certain seasons, produce typically is fresher and tastes best when ripe. And while most fruits and vegetables are available to consumers year-round thanks to agricultural innovations, seasonal fruits and vegetables are typically cheaper to buy because they are easier to produce than fruits and vegetables that are grown out of season. For example, the top advertised items on sale in local grocery stores this week were fruits, comprising 52% of all ads, and vegetables, accounting for 41% of all supermarket sale ads, according to the March 25 edition of the National Retail Report, a weekly roundup of advertised retail pricing information compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “As weather warms across the country, stores are beginning to lure shoppers in with the promise of spring,” the report says. “Ads for strawberries, peaches, cantaloupes, and asparagus were plentiful. Lenten favorites like chayote, lemons, and poblano peppers were advertised for meat-free meals.” While this is not an all-inclusive list, generally speaking, the following produce (among others) is in season in Ohio during the spring, according to the Ohio Farm Bureau:
While eating fruits and vegetables is an important part of a healthy diet, it’s also important to remember to incorporate food safety when preparing and eating them. This is because some raw fruits and vegetables can contain foodborne pathogens such as E. coli, listeria, and salmonella, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As such, nearly half of all foodborne diseases are caused by germs on fresh produce, the CDC says. While cooking produce is one of the best ways to lessen the potential for developing a foodborne illness, here are some other tips from the CDC to keep in mind when choosing and consuming raw fruits and vegetables:
Chow Line is a service of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and its outreach and research arms, Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. Send questions to Chow Line, c/o Tracy Turner, 364 W. Lane Ave., Suite B120, Columbus, OH 43201, or .
Which fruits are in season right now?
What fruit is ready to pick now?
What fruits and vegetables are in season now?
What is in season now?Colorful vegetables like corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, bell peppers, zucchini and summer squash are in season. And as far as fruits go, keep berries, melons, apples, apricots, peaches, kiwis and mangos on your grocery list — these heart-healthy foods are still in season. When should you pick your fruit?The correct time to harvest is when the fruits part easily from the tree. In fact, if they are picked too early the fruit will shrivel and fail to ripen properly. When harvesting, the fruit should be quite hard and unpalatable. What time of day is best to pick grapes?In general, you can harvest grapes at any time of day. However, if you plant to make wine, the best time of day to pick grapes is between 3:00 a.m. and sunrise, notes Mirabeau en Provence. This is because the consistently cool temperatures allow the vinter better control over the fermentation process. What months are harvest season?Late September to early December is the time where farmers get to see the reward of the growing season. Harvest starts in mid-September, and most do not understand all the work that goes into harvest. Making sure that all crops are dry is the most important. What vegetable is in season now?
Are apples in season?Apples are harvested at different times between August and November depending on the variety. Because they bruise easily, they are picked by hand by trained harvesters who pick the fruit at different levels of ripeness depending on how long they will need to be stored. What can you season vegetables with?When it comes to seasoning mixed vegetables, start with the basics. As with nearly any food, the holy trifecta of spices applies to mixed veggies: salt, pepper and garlic. For a 16-ounce bag of mixed veggies, add about a tablespoon of butter or olive oil and season with salt, pepper and garlic to taste. What are the 4 season in order?The four seasons—spring, summer, fall, and winter—follow one another regularly. Each has its own light, temperature, and weather patterns that repeat yearly. In the Northern Hemisphere, winter generally begins on December 21 or 22. What fruit is in season now Maryland?
Are strawberries in season?Strawberries are one of the most cultivated fruits in the country. … Because of that, and the varied locations where they are grown, the national strawberry season is said to run January through November. In the Deep South, when to harvest strawberries will usually be late April and May. What is the difference between a mature fruit and a ripe fruit?Maturity means the produce will ripen and become ready to eat after you pick it. Ripeness occurs when the color, flavor, and texture is fully developed. Once it is fully ripe, fresh produce begins the inevitable and declining spoilage process. What happens if you dont pick fruit?So, when we do not pick that fruit and instead leave it on the tree or the ground to rot, we are not properly caring for our tree. Fruit left to rot attracts bugs, fungus, and bacteria that break down organic waste and return it back to the soil. |