With the warm weather slowly approaching, and the beautiful walks and runs I’ve started doing more of, the markets are definitely something to take advantage of. The tiny farmer’s market in my neighborhood has been calling my name with the smell of the French lemon powdered sugar crepe truck and iced coffee, along with all of the summer produce and the freshly baked pastries (especially their poptarts). This mini market reminds me of the closest thing Marylanders can get to the French markets I visit in Paris with my family (except a lot more expensive, and a little less variety).
Now, there’s an art to shopping at a farmer’s market, starting with creating a list of all of the delicious produce BEFORE you go. Otherwise, you’ll be overwhelmed by all of the choices (and end up spending more money than you were intending). Lucky for you, I’ve done all of the hard work by curating a list of the best produce right now and in the coming months so that you know exactly what to look for! I’ve also included some sneak-peak recipes and some of the health benefits as something else to keep in mind while shopping!
March/April/May
- Apricots– a perfectly sweet little snack, perfect for tanning in the spring and summer sun!
- Artichokes– these promote heart, liver, and digestive health!
- Arugula– honestly, this is the best salad base, in my opinion
- Asparagus– try it oven-roasted with some Celtic salt, lemon, and garlic for the perfect snack or side dish
- Avocado– even though I personally hate this fruit, it goes without saying that if you love it, now’s the time to make an avocado toast or a great guacamole!
- Beets– probably the most amazing veggie for you, beets can work wonders for your skin and EatSprout in Bethesda has an amazing roasted beet hummus
- Blueberries– now’s the time to go berry-picking if you’re not finding them at the market! This fruit is especially amazing in May.
- Bok Choy– a wonderful addition to soups as it reduces inflammation, is great for bone health, and supports heart-health by regulating blood pressure
- Broccoli– this is my all-time favorite veggie aside from edamame and okra, and oven-roasted broccoli is absolute perfection!
- Brussels Sprouts– this is the best veggie for any side dish, especially roasted with maple syrup and a sprinkle of sea salt
- Cabbage– this power-packed veggie supports heart health, lowers cholesterol, and reduces inflammation
- Carrots– perfect for a homemade chicken noodle soup, with my personal favorite way to eat them being to dip them in cottage cheese with everything bagel seasoning and chili flakes (let me know if you try!)
- Cauliflower– great for digestion and immune management
- Cherries– honestly one of my FAVORITE fruits! You can put them in drinks (Shirley Temples), pies and tarts, eat them plain or dipped in greek yogurt for higher protein, or you could even cover them with greek yogurt/chocolate and freeze them for a delicious treat!
- Corn– on the cob, off the cob, or in salads, corn is the best veggie; a summer staple in my house!
- Cucumber– make a Greek salad or the viral “sometimes you just need to eat a whole cucumber” salad kind of vibe.
- Fennel– reduces bloating, improves heart health through potassium and fiber, and even helps to reduce period pain!
- Grapefruit– add some sugar or Splenda and it’s a great breakfast
- Kale– get your Sweetgreen bowls now!
- Kiwi– amazing benefits for your skin, immunity, digestion, and collagen production
- Kumquats– cute and tiny, these are super sweet oranges that burst in your mouth (kind of like gushers)
- Leeks– perhaps you could try the viral leek soup from Emily in Paris? This veggie is one of my favorites as well!
- Lemons– a great addition to water for extra hydration
- Lettuce– another great base for a healthy lunch!
- Mango– literally the BEST fruit in the whole world! I eat so many mangoes in the summer!
- Oranges– try the ones in the cafeteria! They’re delicious!
- Onions– perfect on salads or even the viral Big Mac bowls on TikTok
- Papaya– amazing benefits for your skin including anti-aging properties! It’s also been linked to having anti-cancer properties
- Parsnips– rich in nutrients like folate which help with cell growth
- Pineapple– who doesn’t love a good pineapple? It’s super hydrating and an amazing sweet treat
- Rutabagas– great for heart health, digestion, and immunity
- Radishes– these are amazing shaved in salads
- Rhubarb– try Mrs. Harkins’ pie recipe from the Goal VI: Food article!
- Spinach– another great salad base, with it’s high iron and magnesium content being essential properties we need in our bodies
- Spring Onion– perfect on any Thai inspired dishes or anything requiring a little extra oomph to make it pretty and tasty!
- Strawberries– again, it’s definitely time to go berry picking with these delicious berries that peak in April!
- Summer Squash– try to make or look out for squash soups in restaurants!
- Turnips– they contain compounds which have been found to lower your risk of cancer, but beware! Cruciferous veggies like turnips, broccoli, and cauliflower can trigger bloating in a lot of people
- Winter Squash– again, try to make or look out for squash soups in restaurants!
- Zucchini– the perfect veggie, roasted on the grill with a little bit of olive oil and salt
I hope this list of fresh seasonal produce was a helpful tool you can come back to when planning your meals this spring! It’s important to not only have a lot of color on your plate and fiber in your diet, but shopping locally grown is a great way to support your local farmers and give back to the community.
The produce at farmers markets is some of the best-tasting and freshest that you will eat, I promise! And, as for the farmers market in my neighborhood, it is the best little Saturday tradition my mom and I have after our runs; in the warm seasons, we pick the best produce and walk back munching on some berries, tomatoes, and apples!