Spring Produce Index
Peak supermarket harvest window: March – May
Apricot
Short season, peaking May through July in North America.
Artichoke
Peak harvest occurs in spring (March to May) with a smaller secondary autumn flush (September to October).
Asparagus
Peak local harvest occurs in mid to late spring (April through June); imported spears keep shelves stocked year-round.
Avocado
Available year-round in North American grocery stores, primarily sourced from Mexico. California-grown Hass peaks March-September. Fuerte is more seasonal, peaking November-February.
Bamboo Shoot
Spring bamboo shoots (Takenoko) harvested in April are prized for tenderness; winter shoots (Kan-takenoko) dug from under soil in December are dense and sweet.
Banana
In tropical regions, bananas are harvested year-round with no true off-season. In North America and Europe, grocery supply is also year-round via imports.
Bok Choy
A cool-season crop with peaks in Spring and Autumn; staggered plantings and greenhouses keep it on shelves all year.
Broccoli
Available in supermarkets year-round. Peak season runs through autumn, winter, and early spring when cool weather produces the sweetest, tightest heads.
Cabbage
Abundantly available year-round. Peak harvest for sweet, crisp heads occurs in autumn and winter through the first hard frosts.
Cauliflower
Supermarkets stock cauliflower year-round. Peak quality, sweetness, and head density happen in cool autumn and winter months.
Celery
Stalk celery is produced year-round in coastal valleys. Peak quality and sweetness occur from autumn through early spring.
Swiss Chard
Available year-round in supermarkets. Thrives in cool weather with peak harvest and sweetness in spring through late autumn.
Cherry
Short season, peaking June and July in North America.
Coconut
In tropical climates, coconuts are available year-round with no true off-season. In North America and Europe, mature brown coconuts and packaged coconut products are imported year-round.
Durian
Peak season in Southeast Asia runs from May through August.
Gai Lan
A cool-season crop that peaks from Autumn through early Spring; greenhouse and desert growing keeps it on shelves year-round.
Ginger
Mature cured ginger rhizomes are available in supermarkets year-round. Tender pink-tipped 'young ginger' (Shin-shoga) appears in Asian specialty markets in late spring and early autumn.
Grapefruit
Peak season is November through June in North America.
Guava
Available year-round in tropical regions; in North America, peak imported availability runs from late summer through winter via Mexico and Central America.
Jackfruit
Year-round in tropical growing regions. In the US, green canned jackfruit is available year-round; fresh ripe jackfruit is sporadic in Asian grocery stores.
Jicama
Harvested in autumn and winter; stored tubers keep shelves stocked year-round.
Kale
Abundantly available year-round. Peak sweetness and tenderness occur after autumn and winter frosts, which convert plant starches into natural sugars.
Kiwifruit
Available year-round due to imports from different hemispheres.
Kohlrabi
A cool-weather brassica with peak harvests in late spring and autumn.
Kumquat
Peak season is November through March in the Northern Hemisphere, making them a classic winter citrus.
Leek
Available year-round. Peak season runs from autumn through early spring when cool weather produces thick, sweet shanks.
Lemon
Available year-round as trees produce fruit continuously in subtropical climates.
Lime
Available year-round in tropical and subtropical regions.
Lychee
Short summer season, peaking May through July in the Northern Hemisphere.
Mandarin
In North America and Europe, peak season runs from October through April, making mandarins a classic winter citrus. Clementines arrive first in November, Satsumas overlap, and W. Murcotts and Tangelos stretch the season into spring.
Mango
In tropical regions, mango harvests rotate through the year. In North America and Europe, grocery availability stays year-round through imports from different hemispheres.
Mangosteen
Main harvest typically aligns with the monsoon season in Southeast Asia.
Mushroom
Grown indoors under strictly monitored environmental controls; consistently fresh and available 365 days a year.
Nectarine
Peak season is May through September in the Northern Hemisphere.
Orange
Available year-round as trees produce fruit continuously in subtropical climates.
Papaya
In tropical regions, papayas are available year-round with no sharp off-season. In North America and Europe, stores usually carry them year-round through imports.
Parsnip
Available throughout autumn and winter. Peak sweetness occurs after severe winter ground freezes convert root starches into rich, natural sugars.
Passionfruit
In tropical climates, passionfruit can be harvested year-round with multiple flushes per year. In North America and Europe, it is usually available year-round through imports.
Pineapple
In tropical regions, pineapples are harvested year-round. In North America and Europe, grocery availability is also year-round through imports.
Radish
Peaks in Spring (April-June) and Autumn (September-November) in Northern Temperate zones.
Rambutan
Peak season in Southeast Asia is May through September. Available in Asian grocery stores in the US year-round (often canned) with occasional fresh availability.
Red Onion
Storage red onions are available 365 days a year. Fresh seasonal field harvests peak from late spring through early autumn.
Rutabaga
Available year-round. Peak harvest and sweetest flavor occur in late autumn and winter after cold frosts convert starches into sugars.
Scallion
Available fresh in supermarkets 52 weeks a year thanks to continuous seasonal harvests in Mexico and the American Southwest.
Spinach
Packaged baby spinach is available year-round. Field-grown bunched spinach thrives in cool weather and peaks in spring and autumn.
Starfruit
Available year-round in tropical regions; in tropical Asia and Latin America, peak harvests usually cluster in late summer and autumn.
Strawberry
In northern temperate regions, local strawberry harvest peaks from May through August. Europe follows a similar late-spring through summer window. Stores carry strawberries year-round, with winter supply coming from Mexico and Florida in North America and from Spain, Morocco, and Egypt in Europe.
Turnip
Available year-round in grocery stores. Peak quality and sweetness occur from autumn through winter.
Yu Choy
A fast-growing cool-season green that peaks in Autumn and Spring; available year-round from staggered plantings.