When Are Your Favorite Fruits in Season?

Posted by Gwen Watson on Jun 11, 2015

While it’s true that most types of fruit are available fresh no matter what time of year it is, they taste much better when they’re in season. This means that your local supermarket will likely get their produce from local sources, which means that they’ll be extra fresh. It’s also a great time to support local farmers by visiting farm stands and buying fruit when it’s available. Here’s a list of fruit and when it’s in season.

Strawberries

There’s nothing like perfectly ripe strawberries, which are so sweet they taste like candy. In order for the sugars to develop properly, they absolutely need to be ripened on the bush. In-season strawberries taste much better when purchased from a local source! Strawberries can be at their peak from April to November, depending on where you live.

Cherries

Cherries have a fairly short growing season. A perfectly ripe cherry is both sweet and tart at the same time, which makes it a refreshing early summer treat. In many parts of the country, cherries are in season in June. However, the cherry harvest could begin as early as April. In Bakersfield, California, which is in Southern California, cherries are ready to be picked by the end of April. In northern states such as Washington, they’re in season in the month of June.

Peaches

Peaches are one of those fruits that taste delicious when perfectly ripe because of how sweet and juicy they are. That means that if you live in a climate where peaches tend to grow well, it’s worth seeking out a local source so you can enjoy them at their peak flavor. Prime months for peaches are July and August. However, in some parts of the country, peach season can start as early as May and last until September.

Nectarines

Did you know that nectarines and peaches are actually the same plant species? In fact, a nectarine is really just a smooth-skinned peach and both could grow on the same tree! So, whenever peaches are at their peak, usually in July and August, nectarines are as well.

Melon

Melons such as honeydew, cantaloupe, and watermelon, are a real treat when they’re perfectly ripened. They’re sweet and juicy and a great thirst-quencher on a hot day. When they aren’t ripe enough, they somehow lose a lot of their flavor. All melons are in season from June to August, but the time they’re at their peak varies depending on which part of the country they were grown in.

Apples

Long after strawberries, cherries, peaches, and melons have already reached their peak, apples are just getting started! In most parts of the country, they’re ready to be picked at the end of the August and the harvest continues well into October. However, this all depends on the growing season. Apples tend to grow best in places that have a higher elevation.