There are so many great reasons to buy seasonal produce. Of course, you’re here on this blog because you want to save money on groceries. Purchasing seasonal produce is a great way to do that. If you want to buy fresh produce when it’s not in season, then you have to pay a lot of money to get it shipped from specific sources. On the other hand, if you buy seasonal produce, then you get an abundance of fruits and vegetables at a low price.
Buying seasonal produce from your local area reduces your carbon footprint while also reducing your shipping costs. Furthermore, you often get the best foods for your diet if you choose to eat seasonally. Therefore, it’s a win-win, you get better health and lower cost foods.
Produce in Season: Vegetables to Buy in May
May is a really terrific time of year to purchase a diverse range of vegetables. In fact, of the nearly 70 vegetables that Cuesa lists on their seasonal produce chart for the year, 48 of them are harvested and available in stores in May. Another four are not in their natural harvest season but can still be found in stores.
Asparagus is one of the best seasonal produce options to indulge in during this time of year. It has a short season compared to many vegetables. By the end of June, you won’t likely find good asparagus. Therefore, buy a bunch in May and make it with every meal. Also, if you like kohlrabi, then you might want to look for it in early May. The season is usually done in April but sometimes you can get a great last batch before the season comes to its end.
If you like dandelion greens then you will definitely want to get those in May. It’s the last month of the year that they’re very good. Some of the other seasonal vegetables that are coming to the end of their season in late May include:
- Brussels sprouts
- Fava greens
- Parsnips
- Pea shoots
Some of the other best vegetables to buy in May include:
- Artichokes
- Cactus pads
- Fava beans
- Peas
- Purslane
- Shallots
Seasonal Produce: Fruits to Buy in May
There aren’t as many fruits and nuts in season in May as there are vegetables, but you can still find quite a few options if you’re looking for sweet seasonal produce. Cuesa lists almost 50 different fruits and nuts in their seasonal produce chart. 19 of those are harvested and available in stores in May. Another half dozen are out of their natural harvest season but still readily available in stores.
In fact, May is the first month that you will start seeing a lot of really great summer fruits including:
- Apricots
- Aprium
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Cactus pears
- Loquats
- Nectarines
- Peaches
- Plums
- Pluots
- Raspberies
Some of the other fruits that are fresh in May include:
- Cheriomoyas
- Cherries
- Mandarins
- Rhubarb
- Strawberries
In other words, May is a great time to start adding a lot of different berries to your diet. You can find most citrus all throughout the year, but if you enjoy the unique taste of mandarins and nectarines then be sure to add those to your shopping cart as well.
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