Seasonality Chart
Download and print our new seasonal foods guide! (ahora en español!) Prints on letter sized paper and folds in half twice to fit in with your grocery list.
Eating fruits, nuts and vegetables in season is an amazing experience! It’s also relatively easy given North Carolina’s fertile lands, long growing season and growing interest in local foods.
Peanuts and the official State Vegetable – the sweet potato – are available year round because they are well-suited for safe storage. The apple season (mid-August through mid-February) offers plenty of time to savor these crunchy delights, while the strawberry season -- nothing could be finer – is typically 4-6 weeks (mid-to-late April through late May to early June).
As North Carolina’s local food economy grows, so too does the availability of local meats, dairy and eggs. Visit Our Partners page to find a farmer near you.
Did you know fish and shellfish are also seasonal? Clams can be enjoyed year round. Summer and autumn are ideal for shrimp while soft-blue crabs are typically enjoyed in the spring and summer. North Carolina Sea Grant has a terrific on-line seasonal guide.
Below is a sampling of local foods available in the coming months. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services also has a useful on-line “What’s in Season” chart.
Enjoy!
| MAY | JUNE | JULY | AUGUST |
|---|---|---|---|
FRUITS Blueberries Strawberries NUTS Peanuts VEGETABLES Arugula Asparagus Beets Bok Choy Broccoli Cabbage Celery Root Green Onions Greenhouse Tomatoes Hot Peppers Kale Leafy Greens Mustard Greens Radish Snow Peas Spinach Spring Onions Squash Sweet Potatoes Swiss Chard Turnips Zucchini SEAFOOD Blue Crab (Soft) Bluefish Clam Grey Sea Trout (Weakfish) Grouper King Mackerel Kingfish Mahi-Mahi (Dolphinfish) Oyster Snapper Tilefish Yellowfin Tuna | FRUITS Blackberries Blueberries Honeydew Peaches Plums Strawberries Watermelon NUTS Peanuts VEGETABLES Arugula Asparagus Beets Brussel Sprouts Cabbage Carrots Corn Cucumbers Eggplant Garlic Green Beans Green Onions Green Peppers Greenhouse Tomatoes Hot Peppers Kale Kohlrabi Leafy Greens Mustard Greens Radish Spring Onions Squash Sweet Potatoes Swiss Chard Turnips White Potatoes Zucchini SEAFOOD Black Sea Bass Blue Crab (Hard) Blue Crab (Soft) Clam Grouper Mahi-Mahi (Dolphinfish) Oyster Shrimp Snapper Spanish Mackerel Tilefish Triggerfish Yellowfin Tuna | FRUITS Blackberries Blueberries Cantaloupe Honeydew Peaches Plums Raspberries Watermelon NUTS Peanuts VEGETABLES Brussel Sprouts Butter Beans Cabbage Carrots Corn Cucumbers Eggplant Field Peas Garlic Green Beans Green Peppers Hot Peppers Kohlrabi Leafy Greens Okra Spring Onions Squash Sweet Potatoes Swiss Chard Tomatoes White Potatoes Zucchini SEAFOOD Black Sea Bass Blue Crab (Hard) Blue Crab (Soft) Clam Grouper Mahi-Mahi (Dolphinfish) Oyster Shrimp Snapper Spanish Mackerel Tilefish Triggerfish Yellowfin Tuna | FRUITS Apples Cantaloupe Fig Grapes Honeydew Peaches Pears Plums Raspberries Watermelon NUTS Peanuts VEGETABLES Bok Choy Brussel Sprouts Butter Beans Cabbage Carrots Corn Cucumbers Eggplant Field Peas Garlic Green Beans Green Peppers Hot Peppers Kohlrabi Leafy Greens Okra Rutabaga Spring Onions Squash Sweet Potatoes Tomatoes SEAFOOD Black Sea Bass Blue Crab (Hard) Blue Crab (Soft) Clam Grouper Mahi-Mahi (Dolphinfish) Oyster Shrimp Snapper Spanish Mackerel Tilefish Triggerfish Yellowfin Tuna |
Learn about North Carolina's Fruit & Vegetable Availability and North Carolina's Seafood Availability.
Make the Choice. Make a Difference. Make it Local.
