Recipes

Simple Seasonal Tricks

Want to go seasonal with your food? But what’s in season? At grocery stores and supermarkets, we often find strawberries in winter, broccoli in summer, apples in spring, and blackberries in autumn. However, I can already tell you, they are far from being in season. Learn some tips and tricks to become more aware of when and what fruits and vegetables are best to buy.

Many fruits and vegetables are available year-round in supermarkets, making it hard to distinguish which ones are truly seasonal. When I’m unsure, I usually check the country of origin. This information can be found in different places: on the price-per-kilo label, on the packaging, or, when sold in bulk, on the box. If the produce is from your country, there’s a good chance it’s in season. But be cautious! Many countries use heated greenhouses to grow summer vegetables during winter.

One trick that always works for me: use a seasonal calendar. Nowadays, it’s quite easy to find one specific to your country online.

Here are a few examples for some European countries.

Portugal: Calendário de fruta e legumes na época ideal | DECO PROTESTE
Belgium: Seizoensgroenten: welke groenten in welk seizoen? | Lekker van bij ons
UK: Seasonal fruit and vegetable calendar | Eat Seasonably