Hoppe Ever After

I was a “farmers market girly” long before it was ever cool. In fact, I wasn’t even cool way back when I started being into shopping at the farmers market. Growing up, my dad and Nana loved visiting the Allentown Farmers Market. We would walk laps, eat pizza, and stare at all of the amazing fresh food behind the counters, treating ourselves frequently to baked goods, candies, and many other delectables. We also would go out of our way buying fresh produce and meats from our local farmers. Years later, I was looking for a seasonal job for college breaks, when I found out one of the long-time, highly-sought vendors was hiring and that’s how I came to work at the local poultry market.

YUP. I sold chicken and turkey of all varieties – sausages, burgers, full hens, holiday birds, and all the gross other parts of the chicken that I still to this day can’t really stomach thinking of eating. But hey, who am I to yuck someone else’s yum. The job was so fun and I got to spend so much time talking to like-minded people (in the sense of healthy, wholesome, organic eating) about recipes and food and traditions. To this day, it was one of my absolute favorite jobs and I go out of my way every time I visit the Allentown area from my now-home of Tennessee to visit the market and buy fresh poultry products.

That job is also how I became so passionate about shopping at farmers markets. Since I was already there 3 days/week, it was a no-brainer that I would do my grocery shopping while I was there. Enter: my love for fresh, seasonal products. I wanted to create a seasonal guide to help others understand the benefits of seasonal shopping, and make it easier to know what to look for.

Benefits

1. Nutritional Value – when produce is harvested at its peak ripeness, it’s going to contain the highest possible levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This is also when the tastiness of produce will be at its highest, and why produce taste changes season to season (more bitter vs. sweeter when in-season).
2. Cost – produce is easier to harvest when in season, AND in greater abundance, so the cost:demand will be much less. In addition, buying locally and directly from a farmer drops the cost of the middle people needed for transporting, stocking, and providing goods with a grocery store, so this will create cheaper costs as well. Plus, who doesn’t love to support small businesses and farmers anyway?!
3. Environmentally friendly – buying in-season produce helps protect the environment as it reduces water and land use, pollution, and soil degradation.

In-Season Produce by Month (Tennessee)

January

Celery Root – Cilantro – Fennel – Horseradish – Kohlrabi – Mint – Mushrooms – Oregano – Parsley – Sage – Salsify – Sprouts – Sunchokes

February

Cilantro – Fennel – Horseradish – Kohlrabi – Mint – Mushrooms – Oregano – Parsley – Sage – Sprouts

March

Arugula – Chard – Chives – Cilantro – Fennel – Garlic Scapes – Green Onion – Horseradish – Kohlrabi – Lamb’s Quarters – Mint – Morels – Mushrooms – Nettles – Oregano – Parsley – Peashoots – Purslane – Radish – Sage – Sprouts

April

Arugula – Asparagus – Bok Choy – Broccoli – Cabbage – Chard – Chives – Cilantro – Collard Greens – Fennel – Garlic Scapes – Green Onion – Horseradish – Lamb’s Quarters – Lettuce – Mint – Morels – Mushrooms – Nettles – Oregano – Parsley – Peashoots – Purslane – Radish – Ramps – Rosemary – Sage – Sprouts – Tarragon – Thyme – Watercress

May

Arugula – Asparagus – Basil – Bok Choy – Broccoli – Cabbage – Carrots – Cauliflower – Chard – Chives – Cilantro – Collard Greens – Fennel – Green Onion – Kale – Lamb’s Quarters – Lettuce – Mint – Morels – Mushrooms – Mustard Greens – Onions – Oregano – Parsley – Peas – Purslane – Radish – Ramps – Raspberries – Rhubarb – Rosemary – Sage – Snap Peas – Snow Peas – Sorrel – Spinach – Sprouts – Strawberries – Tarragon – Thyme – Turnips – Watercress

June

Apples – Basil – Beets – Black Eyed Peas – Blackberries – Blueberries – Bok Choy – Boysenberries – Brambles – Broccoli – Cabbage – Cantaloupe – Carrots – Cauliflower – Chard – Cherries – Chives – Cilantro – Collard Greens – Corn – Cucumber – Garlic – Gooseberries – Green Beans – Green Onions – Ground Cherries – Kale – Lamb’s Quarters – Leeks – Lettuce – Mint – Mushrooms – Mustard Greens – Onions – Oregano – Parsley – Peaches – Peas – Plums – Purslane – Radish – Ramps – Raspberries – Rhubarb – Rosemary – Sage – Shallots – Shell Beans – Snap Peas – Snow Peas – Sorrel – Spinach – Sprouts – Strawberries – Summer Squash – Tarragon – Thyme – Tomatillos – Tomatoes – Turnips – Watercress – Zucchini

July

Apples – Basil – Beets – Black Eyed Peas – Blackberries – Blueberries – Bok Choy – Boysenberries – Brambles – Cabbage – Cantaloupe – Celery – Chard – Cherries – Chives – Cilantro – Collard Greens – Corn – Cucumber – Eggplant – Garlic – Gooseberries – Grapes – Green Beans – Green Onions – Ground Cherries – Lamb’s Quarters – Lavender – Leeks – Lima Beans – Melons – Mint – Mushroom – Nectarine – Okra – Onions – Oregano – Parsley – Peaches – Peas – Peppers – Plums – Potatoes –  Purslane – Radish – Raspberries – Rosemary – Sage – Shallots – Shell Beans- Snap Peas – Snow Peas – Summer Squash – Sprouts – Sunchokes – Sweet Potatoes – Thyme – Tomatillos – Tomatoes – Turnips – Watercress – Watermelon – Winter Squash – Zucchini

August

Apples – Apricots – Asian Pears – Basil – Beets – Black Eyed Peas – Blackberries – Blueberries – Boysenberries – Brambles – Cabbage – Cantaloupe – Celery – Chard – Chili Peppers – Chives – Cilantro – Collard Greens – Corn – Cucumber – Eggplant – Garlic – Grapes – Green Beans – Green Onions – Ground Cherries – Lamb’s Quarters – Lavender – Lima Beans – Melons – Mint – Mushroom – Okra – Onions – Oregano – Parsley – Pawpaw – Peaches – Peas – Peppers – Plums – Potatoes –  Purslane – Radish – Raspberries – Rosemary – Sage – Shallots – Shell Beans- Snap Peas – Snow Peas – Summer Squash – Sprouts – Sweet Potatoes – Thyme – Tomatillos – Tomatoes – Turnips – Watermelon – Winter Squash – Zucchini

September

Apples – Arugula – Asian Pears – Basil – Beets – Blackberries – Brambles – Brussel Sprouts – Cabbage – Cantaloupe – Celery – Chard – Chili Peppers – Chives – Cilantro – Collard Greens – Corn – Cucumber – Eggplant – Fennel – Grapes – Green Beans – Green Onions – Ground Cherries – Kale – Lamb’s Quarters – Lavender – Lima Beans – Melons – Mint – Mushroom – Mustard Greens – Okra – Oregano – Parsley – Pawpaw – Peaches – Pears – Peas – Peppers – Plums – Potatoes –  Pumpkin – Purslane – Radicchio – Radish – Raspberries – Rosemary – Sage – Shallots – Shell Beans- Snap Peas – Snow Peas – Summer Squash – Sprouts – Sweet Potatoes – Thyme – Tomatillos – Tomatoes – Turnips – Watermelon – Winter Squash – Zucchini

October

Apples – Arugula – Asian Pears – Basil – Beets – Bok Choy – Broccoli – Brussel Sprouts – Cabbage – Cardoons – Carrots – Celery Root – Celery – Chard – Chicories – Chives – Cilantro – Collard Greens – Endives – Fennel – Grapes – Green Beans – Green Onions – Ground Cherries – Horseradish – Kale – Kohlrabi – Lamb’s Quarters – Lavender – Lima Beans – Mint – Mushroom – Mustard Greens – Okra – Oregano – Parsley – Parsnips – Pawpaw – Pears – Peas – Pecans – Peppers – Potatoes –  Pumpkin – Purslane – Quince – Radicchio – Radish – Rapini – Rosemary – Sage – Salsify – Shallots – Shell Beans- Sprouts – Summer Squash – Sweet Potatoes – Thyme – Tomatillos – Tomatoes – Turnips – Winter Squash – Zucchini

November

Apples – Arugula – Basil – Beets – Bok Choy – Brussel Sprouts – Cabbage – Cardoons – Carrots – Celery Root – Celery – Chard – Chicories – Cilantro – Collard Greens – Endive – Fennel – Green Onions – Ground Cherries – Horseradish – Kale – Kohlrabi – Mint – Mushroom – Mustard Greens – Oregano – Parsley – Parsnips – Peas – Pecans – Pumpkin – Quince – Radicchio – Radish – Rapini – Rosemary – Sage – Salsify – Shallots – Sprouts – Thyme – Tomatillos – Tomatoes – Turnips – Winter Squash

December

Brussel Sprouts – Carrots – Celery Root – Chicories – Cilantro – Endive – Fennel – Horseradish – Kohlrabi – Mint – Mushroom – Oregano – Parsley – Pecans – Radicchio – Sage – Salsify – Sprouts

Use this guide to select your state and season for produce: Seasonal Food Guide