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Here is a guide to all the delicious winter fruits and vegetables you will find in stores now. And while this may not be the most bountiful time of the year, seasonal winter produce is a thing. Look for these beauties now.
Why is it important to eat seasonally?
- Enjoy fruits and vegetables at their peak. Fruits and vegetables that ripen on the stem develop a fuller taste than produce that has been picked early and shipped across the world. Pears and avocados are the exceptions. They are harvested unripe.
- The fresher the better. Likewise, the nutritional value of produce starts heading south soon after it is picked. The fresher the food, the more inherently healthy it is.
- Save dollars. In-season produce is usually a deal.
- Reduce your carbon footprint: When possible, food purchased as close to where it is grown as possible lessens its burden on the environment.
Tips for shopping for winter produce
- Give seasonal produce a look-see. Avoid anything rumpled, beat-up, bruised, or weeping.
- Sometimes it pays to read ads and local sales flyers. These can give you a great idea of what is in season and on sale. Sign up for store alerts if you want.
- Buy first and plan around it. See what looks good at the store before planning all your recipes.
- Be flexible: Also, if a recipe normally calls for pears but you can’t find any, can you substitute apples? Swap broccoli for cauliflower?
Seasonal winter fruits
Citrus from California, Florida, Texas, and Arizona all peaks in the winter. Look for items like Meyer lemons, a sweet hybrid, or giant pomelos. Late season apples include varieties like Baldwin, Pink Ladies, and Fujis. You might find lots of Comic and Bosc pears. Also, enjoy the last of late fall fruits like pomegranates.
- Apples
- Citrus – Lemons, Oranges, Grapefruits!
- Pears
- Pomegranates
Recipes with seasonal winter fruits
There are so many recipes, both sweet and savory that you can make the winter season fruits. Here are some of my favorites to check out:
- Pomegranate Smoothie
- Caramel Apple Granola Bars
- Pear Salad
- Green Pear Smoothie
- Cranberry Orange Bread
- Beet Orange Salad
Seasonal winter vegetables
My sheet pans get a work out in the winter when I load up on healthy, roast-able cruciferous veggies. Seasonal winter favorites like Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower are all fantastic roasted with just olive oil, and salt and pepper. Or try expanding your palate with beets, licorice-like fennel, or creamy, nutty parsnips.
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Broccoli Rabe:
- Brussels sprouts:
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Celery root
- Chicory and other greens
- Fennel
- Greens, like Collard Greens, Kale, and Swiss Chard.
- Onions and shallots
- Leeks
- Parsnips
- Potatoes – Sweet Potatoes and White Potatoes
- Turnips
- Squash
Recipes with seasonal winter vegetables
From rich sweet potatoes dishes and squash soups to oven-roasted veggies, and fritters, there is so much you can do with winter produce.
- Broccoli and Fennel Soup
- Cauliflower Pizza Crust
- Buffalo Chicken Salad with Celery
- Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
- Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
- Potato Leek Soup
Frequently asked questions
Of course, if you live in a Northern state, most winter produce is either coming out of cold storage or is shipped in from California or the South. If you are curious about what produce is in season in your region, consult this cool app and website.
Generally, whole frozen citrus will be mushy when defrosted, but there are a lot of ways to save extra oranges, lemons, or grapefruits. For instance, try making some Middle Eastern salt-preserved lemons. Or zest and squeeze the juice and freeze them separately.
Experts say getting plenty of vitamin D (mostly in oily fish, red meat, fortified kinds of milk, and eggs but also mushrooms) helps. Of course, citrus is loaded with vitamin C, and leafy greens will give you vitamin B.
Winter is still a great time to experiment with new fruits and vegetables even if they may not be the most popular produce. And don’t forget to check out my other seasonal guides like my Spring Produce Guide, Summer Produce Guide, and Fall Produce Guide.
Hope you’ve enjoyed this Seasonal Winter Fruits And Vegetables List. Feel free to share it with your friends! I would love to hear about your experience with seasonal produce – do you try to eat seasonally? If you snapped some shots of seasonal produce and recipes, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!
