Ever wonder when certain foods are in season in Maine? The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) has compiled the following list, making it easy for all of us to eat locally and to eat in season. In addition to the seasonal recommendations, be sure to check out the side bar list of 20 Maine-grown and Maine-produced foods that are available year-round.
JANUARY – APRIL
Apples
Beets
Cabbage
Carrots
Celeriac
Dry beans
Garlic
Leeks
Onions
Parsnips
Potatoes
Rutabagas
Sweet potatoes
Turnips
Winter squash
MAY – JUNE
Asparagus
Fiddleheads
Greens: beet greens, bok choy, chard, dandelion greens, kale, spinach, lettuce, turnip greens
Herbs: chives & parsley
Peas
Radishes
Rhubarb
Salad turnips
Scallions
JULY – AUGUST
August only – peaches, earliest apples, melons
Beets
Berries: strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Cucumbers
Culinary herbs
Eggplant
Fennel
Garlic – scapes and bulbs
Green beans
Greens: arugula, beet greens, bok choy, chard, kale, lettuce, mustard greens, Asian greens
Leeks
Onions, scallions and shallots
Peas
Peppers
Plums
Potatoes
Radishes
Salad turnips
Summer squash and zucchini
Tomatoes
SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER
Apples (and apple cider)
Beets
Broccoli
Broccoli raab
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celeriac
Celery
Cranberries
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Fennel
Garlic
Green beans
Greens: arugula, Asian greens, beet greens, bok choy, chard, kale, lettuce, mustard greens, sorrel
Kohlrabi
Leeks
Melons
Onions
Parsnips
Pears
Peppers
Pie pumpkins
Potatoes
Radishes
Raspberries
Rutabaga
Salad turnips
Scallions
Shallots
Shell beans
Soy beans (edamame)
Spinach
Summer squash
Sweet corn
Sweet potatoes
Tomatillos
Tomatoes: cherry, salad & canning/sauce
Turnips
Variety of culinary herbs
Winter squash
Zucchini
NOVEMBER – DECEMBER
By this time of year, most Maine produce is coming from cold storage. However, a few Maine farmers grow vegetables in heated greenhouses throughout the winter, and others grow frost tolerant crops in unheated structures to extend the seasons. You may be pleasantly surprised to find a good selection of greens at the winter farmers’ markets well into December.
Apples
Beets
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Celeriac
Dry beans
Garlic
Kohlrabi
Late season greens, such as kale and spinach
Leeks
Onions
Parsnips
Pears
Potatoes
Radishes
Rutabagas
Sweet potatoes
Turnips
Winter squash
The “MAINE LOCAL 20”
There are 20 foods that Maine has the capacity to produce year-round, and thanks to our innovative farmers and producers, this list is growing all of the time! Called the “Maine Local 20,” the list includes fruits and vegetables, dairy, protein/meat, grains and sweeteners. So there’s no reason why we can’t eat a balanced diet consisting primarily of foods produced in Maine all year!
FRUIT: Blueberries & Apples
VEGETABLES: Potatoes, Carrots, Beets & Beet Greens, Garlic, Salad & Braising Greens, Tomatoes, Winter Squash, Cabbage, Onions
DAIRY: Milk, Cheese
PROTEIN: Eggs, Ground Meat, Seafood, Dry Beans
SWEETS: Maple Syrup, Honey
GRAINS: Wheat
For more information on local, seasonal, organic eating in Maine, visit www.mofga.org
1 Comment