Fun Foods for Spring!

It’s that time of year again. Summer is just around the corner, and you can’t wait for all the fresh produce that’s going to come. But wait, there’s already some produce now? That’s right; many types of delicious produce grow in spring. If you’re wondering just what these foods are and what you can make with them, you’ve come to the right place.

What kinds of produce grows in spring?

Well, it depends on where you live, but almost everywhere has something fresh to enjoy in spring.

Vegetables grown in spring inlclude:

• Asparagus
• Artichokes
• Peas (sugar snap, snow peas, garden peas)
• Spinach
• Arugula
• Lettuce (and other salad greens)
• Radishes
• Green onions (scallions)
• Rhubarb (technically a vegetable, often treated like fruit)
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• New potatoes
• Fava beans
• Carrots
• Beets

That’s an amazing selection, and it’s only the veggies! Here are the fruits:

• Strawberries
• Cherries (late spring)
• Apricots (late spring)
• Lemons
• Limes
• Pineapples (depends on region)
• Mangoes (also regional)

As you can see, there’s plenty of produce already, and summer hasn’t even begun.

What can I make out of these?

Well, there’s plenty of options considering all of the foods that are growing. Think of trying a fruit salad with cherries, apricots, and strawberries. Or, even try this Strawberry Mango Salsa Recipe! Other possibilities with fruit include Cherry Pie, Lemon Bars, and even a Tropical Smoothie! The veggies give even more opportunities to make something delightful, as there are even more of them in season. A great and classic dessert to make during Easter is Carrot Cake, which uses the carrots that are in season. But, if you want something more original, you could bake a Rhubarb Pie! For a side dish during Easter, you could make Roasted Asparagus, Steamed Broccoli, Or even a fresh Arugula Salad with Roasted Beets. If it’s before or after Easter, you could make a Cauliflower Rice bowl, making your own Cauliflower Rice. A great hearty soup to get you through those colder days or if you’re sick would be Chicken Noodle Soup, or even a Vegetarian Chicken Noodle Soup! There are so many amazing possible recipes to make with fresh produce during the spring.

Why can’t I just buy other produce form the store?

You’ve probably seen fruits and veggies that aren’t in season at your local supermarket. You’ve also probably wondered, how did they get here in the middle of winter? Well, it has to do with shipping. Most produce you see during the winter is shipped from other places so you can enjoy it, but that has major downsides. The shipping can create unnecessary pollution from all the trucks that had to move the produce to your location. Produce that is shipped is also often more expensive than the fresh stuff, and doesn’t taste nearly as good. It also may have negative health benefits from the pesticides and other chemicals they use to keep the produce fresh. Your best bet is to wait until produce is in season so you can buy it locally. Going to a local farmer’s market is an easy way to do this, and you’re supporting your community! It also can make you healthier, because the produce comes locally, has no pesticides, and it may be something you don’t usually eat. In the winter, it’s okay to buy some produce, but try to eat more frozen fruits and veggies or canned ones, and eat more dried fruit, as these were most likely made during their growing season.

So, next time you go to the grocery store in spring, take a minute to look up what’s in season near you. You may find a recipe or food that you dearly enjoy! Doing this will make a you a better cook, a healthier person, and it will reduce your carbon footprint.