Buying fruits and vegetables in season, or when they’re at their prime and grown closer to home, can cut a big chunk off your grocery bill each week. When you buy fruits and vegetables in season, you tend to get the best taste too!
Eating seasonally is such a simple thing to do. If you had cauliflower on your list but notice it’s priced at over $3.00, skip it, or buy broccoli instead. Same goes for fruit. Strawberries looking less than desirable and overpriced? Buy bananas.
A great way to take advantage of in season produce is to buy as much as your budget will allow. Eat some, then freeze the rest! Every year when our peaches are in season at our local orchards, I buy pounds and pounds of them to freeze for smoothies. Don’t worry, we also eat our fair share of fresh peaches! By freezing (or canning) fruit and vegetables while they’re at their prime, ensures you get to enjoy them at their finest throughout the “slow months”.
I’ve created a chart showing which seasons you’ll find better priced and better quality fruits and vegetables:
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asparagus | Apples | Apples | Potatoes |
| Beets (late Spring) | Beans | Beans (early Fall) | Squash |
| Broccoli (late Spring) | Beets | Beets | Cabbage |
| Cabbage (late Sprint) | Blueberries | Broccoli (early Fall) | Carrots |
| Cauliflower (late Spring) | Broccoli | Cabbage | Brussel Sprouts |
| Cherries (late Spring) | Cabbage | Carrots | |
| Lettuce (late Spring) | Carrots | Cauliflower | |
| Peas (late Spring) | Cauliflower | Celery (early Fall) | |
| Radishes (late Spring) | Celery | Corn (early Fall) | |
| Raspberries (late Spring) | Cherries (early Summer) | Cucumber (early Fall) | |
| Strawberries | Corn | Eggplant (early Fall) | |
| Mushrooms | Cucumber | Grapes (early Fall) | |
| Rhubarb | Eggplant (late Summer) | Lettuce (early Fall) | |
| Spinach | Grapes (late Summer) | Onions (early Fall) | |
| Carrots | Lettuce | Pears (early Fall) | |
| Nectarines | Peppers (early Fall) | ||
| Onions | Plums (early Fall) | ||
| Peaches | Potatoes | ||
| Pears (late Summer) | Radishes (early Fall) | ||
| Peas | Squash | ||
| Peppers | Tomatoes (early Fall) | ||
| Plums | Mushrooms | ||
| Potaotes | Pumpkins | ||
| Radishes | Sweet Potatoes | ||
| Raspberries | Turnips | ||
| Squash | Cranberries | ||
| Strawberries (early Summer) | |||
| Tomatoes | |||
Now, if you must have a certain fruit or vegetable when it’s not in season, buy the frozen variety. Companies, like Green Giant, freeze their produce to sell in stores when they’re at their peak, so you won’t be missing out on any nutrients or quality. (Although, I do generally prefer fresh!)
Have you been buying fruits and vegetables in season? By the way, I have a post on How to Freeze Peaches if you’re interested!
Missed the last posts in the series? Here they are:
- Trim your Grocery Bill – Commit to Make a Change
- Trim your Grocery Bill – Sneaky Ways Grocery Stores get you to Spend More
- Trim your Grocery Bill – You Need a Grocery Budget
- Trim your Grocery Bill – Menu Planning will Save your Budget and your Sanity
- Trim your Grocery Bill – Tips for Successful Menu Planning, Part 1
- Trim your Grocery Bill – Tips for Successful Menu Planning, Part 2
- Trim your Grocery Bill – Start Building a Stockpile
- Trim your Grocery Bill – Don’t be Brand Dependent
- Trim your Grocery Bill – Shop at More than One Store
- Trim your Grocery Bill – Look for Markdowns
Chineses vegetables like Bok Choy and Nappa are usually a decent price in winter. I put them in salads, stir fries, stews and all. They are mild tasting and give extra crunch and vitamins.
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