Winter Produce Index
Peak supermarket harvest window: December – February
Acorn Squash
Abundantly available in grocery stores throughout autumn and winter (September through February).
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.
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.
Broccoli
Available in supermarkets year-round. Peak season runs through autumn, winter, and early spring when cool weather produces the sweetest, tightest heads.
Brussels Sprouts
Supermarkets carry sprouts year-round. Peak season runs from September through February, when cold autumn and winter frosts concentrate sugars.
Butternut Squash
Cured winter squash is available year-round. Peak harvest and sweetest flavor occur from September through February.
Cabbage
Abundantly available year-round. Peak harvest for sweet, crisp heads occurs in autumn and winter through the first hard frosts.
Carrot
Available in supermarkets year-round. Peak harvest for sweet, crisp field carrots occurs in late autumn through winter when cold temperatures convert starches to sugars.
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.
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.
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.
Gobo
Young gobo harvested in early summer (Shin-gobo) is tender and mild; autumn and winter harvests yield earthier, deeply flavorful mature roots.
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.
Kabocha
Harvested in late summer through autumn; stores exceptionally well through late winter.
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.
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.
Lotus Root
Harvested from ponds in Autumn and Winter, when the rhizome is fattest and starchiest; sold year-round from cold storage.
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.
Mushroom
Grown indoors under strictly monitored environmental controls; consistently fresh and available 365 days a year.
Napa Cabbage
A cold-weather crop that peaks from Autumn into Winter, when frost sweetens the head; cold storage keeps it available year-round.
Onion
Available year-round. Fresh spring/summer sweet onions arrive March through August; cured storage storage onions peak during autumn and winter harvests.
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.
Persimmon
In North America and East Asia, peak season runs from October through December.
Pomegranate
Peak season is September through January in the Northern Hemisphere.
Pomelo
Peak season is late autumn through winter in the Northern Hemisphere, coinciding with the Lunar New Year when pomelos are a traditional gift. Available in Asian grocery stores year-round.
Quince
In northern temperate regions, quince is a late-autumn crop that peaks from October through December. Grocery availability is limited compared with apples or pears, so quince is usually a specialty-market fruit, with small off-season imported volumes appearing mainly in spring.
Rutabaga
Available year-round. Peak harvest and sweetest flavor occur in late autumn and winter after cold frosts convert starches into sugars.
Shallot
Properly cured dry shallots are available year-round. New-crop harvests arrive in late summer and early autumn.
Spaghetti Squash
Cured winter squash is available year-round. Peak season runs from September through February.
Starfruit
Available year-round in tropical regions; in tropical Asia and Latin America, peak harvests usually cluster in late summer and autumn.
Sweet Potato
Harvested in autumn; cured tubers are available year-round with peak quality in autumn and winter.
Taro
Harvested year-round in tropical climates; peak availability in North American and Asian markets spans autumn through winter.
Turnip
Available year-round in grocery stores. Peak quality and sweetness occur from autumn through winter.