In Season at the Markets – Late Spring

The chef scrunched up his nose like a wrinkled overripe apricot. A student in his cooking school in the south of France was aware that strawberries grow in Provence, and he had asked if the menu would include them. The chef became so upset at the question that he crushed an empty eggshell into a hundred specks. This was late January, and the chef was demonstrating how to make crêpes. “I not even THINK of eat strawberries in January!” He sputtered in broken English but his opinion was unmistakable. It wasn’t this chef’s nature to react so forcefully, but the question had touched a nerve. After taking a deep breath he explained, “Foods must be eaten in season to enjoy their full flavor.” 

Most foods are now available everywhere all the time thanks to advances in distribution and packaging. It’s easy to find them, but do we really want to eat asparagus in December and tomatoes in February? They might have the same shape and color that we have come to expect, but take one bite and their true nature as bland imposters is revealed.

Given the year-round availability of most foods, many of us don’t know what’s in season when. It’s easy to learn, and well worth the effort. Recipes in newspapers, magazines, and blogs offer good clues. Shopping at farmers’ markets is the best tip-off for finding local seasonal produce. 

To see a video about what to look for at the markets, click here.

I’ve assembled a seasonal harvest list to know what to look for at the markets this time of year. It isn’t comprehensive, and there will be variability depending on the climate where you’re shopping. With those caveats aside, here’s what most of us in the northern hemisphere can find at the farmers’ markets in late spring into early summer. Enjoy these foods while they’re at their best. (And don’t suffer the wrath of an angry chef!) Bon appétit!

Late Spring Harvest 

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Related Posts:

Winter Season at the Markets

Why Shop at Farmers’ Markets?

Let’s Get Fresh

7 Things That I’ve Learned from Chefs about Markets