A Northeast Buyer's Guide to What's In Season and When
Bookmark this. Come back every month.
The grocery store is designed to make you forget what season it is. Strawberries in January. Tomatoes in March. Corn in April. It's all available, all the time but it's not all farm fresh, and it's definitely not all local.
Buying seasonally from local farms isn't just better for the environment or the farmer (though it is both of those things). It's better for you. Produce picked at peak ripeness and sold within days of harvest is nutritionally denser, more flavorful, and significantly cheaper than the same item shipped from across the continent out of season.
Here's what's actually growing in the Northeast, month by month. Use this as your guide for what to look for on Co-Op and what to buy in bulk when the price and quality are at their best.
What's in Season
January
Storage crops from fall harvest: winter squash, potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, beets, turnips, parsnips, celeriac. Greenhouse greens in some areas. Maple sap season begins in late January in warmer years.
February
Continued storage crops. Late winter is the leanest month for local produce which means it’s a good time to focus on preserved, fermented, and dried goods from local producers. Maple syrup season begins!
March
Maple syrup season peaks in March! It’s the best time to buy local syrup in bulk directly from a sugarhouse. First greenhouse greens appear: spinach, arugula, lettuce. Parsnips sweetened by frost are at their best.
April
Early spring greens arrive: spinach, arugula, kale, chard, lettuce, radishes, green onions. Asparagus season begins toward the end of the month, fleeting and worth buying in quantity.
May
Asparagus peak. Buy in abundance and freeze what you can't use. Strawberries begin in southern areas. Rhubarb, spring onions, peas, and early herbs. Greenhouse tomatoes in some areas.
June
Strawberry season! The first truly abundant local fruit of the year and one of the best bulk buys of the season. Snap peas, early summer squash, garlic scapes, fresh herbs, salad greens, and beets.
July
Full summer abundance begins. Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries. Early tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, peppers, beans, summer squash, zucchini. New potatoes. Fresh garlic. The best month for variety.
August
Peak season for almost everything. Tomatoes, sweet corn, peppers, eggplant, beans, cucumbers, summer squash. Peaches and plums. Winter squash begins to arrive. Buy and preserve tomatoes now.
September
Apples begin: one of the Northeast's greatest fall crops and ideal for co-op buying. Winter squash in full swing. Late tomatoes, peppers, and corn. Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli. Sweet potatoes.
October
Apple season peaks. Winter squash, pumpkins, root vegetables, brassicas. Brussels sprouts are at their best after a frost. Cider. Late season greens like kale, chard, spinach improve with cold weather.
November
Root vegetables, winter squash, storage potatoes and onions, garlic, late apples, Brussels sprouts, kale, and hearty greens. Hunting season means local venison and game in some areas.
December
Storage crops dominate: roots, squash, potatoes, onions, garlic. Greenhouse greens. A good month to stock up on preserved goods like jams, pickles, dried herbs, and honey for winter cooking.
A few things worth buying in bulk and why
Some seasonal items are so good and so time-limited that buying more than you immediately need is genuinely worth it. Here are the best bulk buys of the Northeast year and what to do with them.
Strawberries (June): The season lasts about three weeks. Buy a flat, eat what you want fresh, and freeze the rest on a sheet pan before bagging. Frozen local strawberries in February are dramatically better than fresh supermarket ones.
Tomatoes (August): Peak season is two to three weeks. A bulk buy of ripe tomatoes is one of the best investments you can make in your winter cooking. Sauce, roast, freeze, or can.
Corn (July-August): Blanch and freeze ears at peak sweetness. Frozen local corn is categorically better than canned.
Apples (September-October): Storage apples keep for months in a cool spot. A bulk buy from an orchard is one of the most cost-effective moves of the fall season. See Post 8 for the full fall buying guide.
Maple syrup (March): Buy a half-gallon or gallon jug directly from a sugarhouse during peak season. It keeps indefinitely, costs significantly less than small retail bottles, and is one of the Northeast's most distinctly local products.
Garlic (July-August): A full braid or bulk bag of fresh local garlic cured and stored in a cool dry place will last well into winter. The difference between fresh local garlic and the imported supermarket variety is remarkable.
On Co-Op, seasonal availability drives when sellers list. Check back regularly a great co-op for peak-season tomatoes or just-harvested apples won't be there forever. That's the point.
Co-Op connects you directly with local farmers, makers, and producers in your area. Browse co-ops near you and claim your share at co-op-app.com
