In today’s modern world we are spoilt for choice with the range of fruit and vegetables available in most supermarkets throughout the year. One thing to be mindful of, is many fruits and veggies you see on shelf during the year, may actually be imported and not necessarily be in season in our country at that time. So read the label or packaging to make sure it’s farmed locally in South Africa.
Is it in season?
Knowing which fresh produce is indeed in season, has many benefits. Seasonal fruit and vegetables are at their best in terms of flavour, aroma and nutritional value. They are also easily available and much cheaper. Supporting local farmers and buying (and eating) what is in season, is also much better for the environment. Seasonal produce often also results in less waste, as you are enjoying it when it’s quality is at its best, with less bruising, wilted or overripe parts getting thrown away.
Agriculture is expanding!
The other side of the ‘fruit basket’ is that agricultural and logistical developments and farming practices are continuing to expand the varieties of cultivars at a rapid pace. For some produce, like citrus, avocados, apples and even strawberries, their ‘season’ now stretches over a much longer period than before. Different varieties and cultivars are ripe at different times of the year in South Africa, so buying an apple or avocado in summer, does not mean that they are ‘not in season’ anymore.
Did you know?
Here are a few interesting things about some of the fruit and veggies that we regularly have on our shopping lists. Some fresh produce is botanically speaking a fruit (as it contains the seed of the plant), but we know them as vegetables, as we prepare them as savoury dishes. Good examples include avocados, tomatoes, cucumbers, brinjals, baby marrows, bell peppers and even sweetcorn. Others include chillies, peas and pumpkin. Produce that we eat as vegetables are often the ‘other’ edible parts, like the flowers, leaves, stems or roots of the plant. Examples are onions (bulb), carrots (root), spinach and lettuce (leaves), celery (stems) and broccoli (flowers).
The lists below are organised per season, and the fruit and veggies are listed (alphabetically) in the category we typically eat them. This serves as a broad guideline, indicating when the most popular fruit and veggies are in their peak season. Take note, that some produce may be available early in a season, while others may only be available during the later part of the same season. Some produce is available all year round, like onions, potatoes or bananas. Produce that’s available for longer periods of the year, are listed under the main season that they are available in. There is however not enough space to list all the different cultivars of some fruit, like apples, which these days are available during a range of seasons.
All-year-round produce
Fruit
apples, bananas, lemons, pineapples
Veggies
baby marrows, bell peppers, butternut, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cucumber, green beans, lettuce, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes
Autumn (March – May)
Fruit
avocados, figs, gooseberries, grapes, guavas, mangoes, melons (green and orange), oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, plums, pomegranates, quinces, soft citrus, tomatoes, turnips, watermelons
Veggies
beetroot, brinjal (aubergine/eggplant), broccoli, Brussels sprouts, celery, garlic, gem squash, kale, leeks, parsnips, peas, pumpkins, radishes, spinach, sweetcorn
Winter (June – August)
Fruit
avocados, gooseberries, grapefruit, guavas, kiwis, limes, naartjies, oranges, papayas, pears, pomegranates, soft citrus, tomatoes
Veggies
asparagus, beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, celeriac, celery, garlic, kale, leeks, parsnips, peas, rhubarb, spinach, spring onions, turnips, waterblommetjies
Spring (September – November)
Fruit
apricots, avocados, blueberries, cherries, dates, gooseberries, grapefruit, grapes, guavas, kiwis, limes, melons (green and orange), mulberries, naartjies, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, plums, prunes, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, watermelons
Veggies
artichokes, asparagus, baby corn, beetroot, brinjal (aubergine/eggplant), broccoli, Brussels sprouts, celery, garlic, gem squash, kale, leeks, peas, pumpkin, radishes, rhubarb, spinach, spring onions, sweetcorn
Summer (December – February)
Fruit
apricots, avocados, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, figs, granadillas, grapes, heirloom tomatoes, kiwis, litchis, mangoes, melons (green and orange), mulberries, nectarines, papayas, peaches, pears, plums, pomegranates, quinces, raspberries, strawberries, watermelons
Veggies
artichokes, asparagus, baby corn, beetroot, brinjal (aubergine/eggplant), celery, chillies, garlic, gem squash, mange tout, pumpkin, radishes, rhubarb, snap peas, spinach, spring onions, sweetcorn