As we head into the warm months, many people start to naturally crave the bright, crisp, mouth-watering spring fruits and vegetables. Eating seasonally is better for your health and the planet, so brighten up your daily routine with fresh, seasonal produce and easy meals from Gobble.
Your Spring Produce Guide
Seasonal fruits and vegetables are not only fresher and tastier than out-of-season produce, but also healthier, more affordable, and better for the planet.
Produce bought out-of-season is picked before it has had the chance to ripen fully due to the demands of long shipping times. Harvesting fruits and vegetables before they are ready can negatively impact nutrient density and also result in a loss of flavor. These off-peak foods also have a larger carbon footprint than their local, seasonal alternatives.
However, when you buy seasonal fruits and vegetables year-round, you ensure that you are eating a nutritionally diverse, delicious, and sustainable menu.
We’ve compiled this spring produce guide to help you pick the best seasonal fruits and vegetables and make the most of this bountiful season!
Spring Fruits In Season
Seasonal spring fruits include a diverse range of some of our classic favorites, as well as a few surprising fruits you may not expect.
Strawberries
There’s nothing more mouth-watering than a perfectly-ripe spring strawberry! Strawberries are high in vitamin C and can be eaten on their own as a healthy snack, chopped on top of a bowl of cereal, or blended into a refreshing smoothie.
Avocados
Finding that perfectly ripe avocado is just a little bit easier in spring when these fruits are in season. To know if an avocado is ready to eat, lightly squeeze it in your hand. The skin should be dark and firm, and the fruit should slightly give under gentle pressure. When you’re sure it’s ready, enjoy it spread on some toast, mashed into guacamole, or by itself with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Lemons and Limes
More excellent sources of Vitamin C, lemons, and limes are a staple to any spring seasonal shopper. Enjoy the refreshing taste of citrus sliced into a glass of water, zested over pasta, or squeezed into juice.
Pineapples
Although often considered a summer fruit for its tropical vibe, the peak season for pineapples actually begins as early as March! Enjoy this spring fruit on its own, in smoothies, or as a surprise ingredient in jerk stir-fry, a simmered curry, or even atop a classic pizza.
Apricots
Apricots are an under-rated spring fruit that provides a great source of potassium and fiber. If you’ve never shopped for apricots before, look for ones that are firm, plump, and don’t have any discolorations. Enjoy them cooked with a bit of butter and cinnamon on top of oatmeal for breakfast, blended to create a frozen treat, or chopped into a spring salad with some seasonal spring greens.
Other Seasonal Spring Fruits
There are so many fruits available to choose from in the spring! Other fruits you can find seasonally at this time of year include apples, bananas, kiwifruit, sweet cherries, grapefruit, kumquats, and mangos.
Spring Seasonal Vegetables
Getting your daily dose of veggies is fun and easy when you focus on buying seasonal produce. These spring vegetables are in their prime from March to May and provide endless flavor opportunities.
Collard Greens, Kale, and Spinach
Collard greens, kale, and spinach all belong to a family of super-foods that ripen just in time for the warm weather. These greens are high in vitamins A, C, and K, and also provide a good source of calcium and fiber. Replace your regular iceberg lettuce with these green giants, and watch as you pack in the nutrients! Enjoy in a salad or blended into a healthy and delicious green smoothie with some seasonal fruits.
Peas
Whether you prefer garden, snow, or snap — peas are a great spring vegetable to add some crunch to your meal. Throw them whole into a salad or stir fry for some flavor and texture diversity. As a bonus, you can also enjoy pea greens in the spring as a farm-fresh garnish for pasta, sandwiches, and soups.
Carrots
What doesn’t go with carrots? This sweet spring vegetable mixes perfectly into a salad, stir fry, juice, smoothie, soup, or even raw as a snack with a hummus or ranch dip.
Onions
Many varieties of onions begin becoming seasonally available in March, including the aptly-named spring onion. Similar to scallions, spring onions make the perfect chopped addition to nearly any dish.
Artichokes
Although many think of artichokes as a fall veggie, they enjoy two crop harvests: including one in the spring! Don’t be intimidated if you’ve never cooked with artichoke before. Despite their thorns, artichokes have a soft heart and a deliciously nutty flavor that will keep you coming back for more.
Mushrooms
While technically not a vegetable, these edible fungi deserve an honorable mention when it comes to seasonal spring produce. Mushrooms are a great source of many vitamins and nutrients that aren’t normally available in vegetables, like Vitamin D and selenium (which is important for immune health). Mushrooms can be enjoyed in a variety of dishes such as soups, stir-fries, pasta, or even as a creative meat substitute.
Other Spring Seasonal Vegetables
Spring is such a bountiful season it’s hard to choose just a few! Some other vegetables that are ripe for the harvest in springtime include asparagus, broccoli, celery, radishes, rhubarb, turnips, garlic, and many herbs and spices.
Delicious Seasonal Eating Made Easy
Spring is a busy season. Take control of your meals and healthy, spring fruits and vegetables with Gobble. Enjoy hand-picked, delicious, and easy meal prep in 15-minutes or less with our diverse menu options, thoughtfully sourced with health and sustainability in mind.
Our chef-crafted and prepared meals take the guesswork out of seasonal produce shopping. Going lean this spring? Try our Lean & Clean plan for a personalized menu with lean protein, no grains, and a focus on healthy fats. Gobble is here to make meal choices easy and rewarding.
For other seasonal produce check out:
● Fall Fruits And Vegetables To Try
