Traditional Greek cooking is based on what’s in season at the moment. Meals are often planned at the last minute, depending on what looks irresistible at the market! So what’s in season now?

Answer:In today’s world of refrigeration and hothouse-grown produce, the distinction among seasonal produce is often lost. However, each fruit, vegetable, and herb does have a season when it is ripe and ready to eat without the help of anyone except Mother Nature – better from both a nutritional and taste perspective. In Greece, these are the seasonal fruits, vegetables, and herbs we see in our farmer’s markets. Different varieties may be available at different times.

JANUARY

• Vegetables and Herbs:
  Broccoli
  Brussel sprouts
  Beets
  Cabbage
  Carrots
  Cauliflower
  Celery
  Chard
  Chicory
  Dill
  Fennel root
  Leeks
  Parsley
  Rutabaga
  Romaine lettuce
  Spinach
• Fruit:
  Apples
  Avocado *
  Clementines
  Grapefruit
  Lemons
  Olives **
  Oranges
  Tangerines
• Dried Fruit & Nuts:
  Almonds
  Chestnuts
  Raisins
  Walnuts

 

FEBRUARY

• Vegetables and Herbs:
  Artichokes
  Beets
  Broccoli
  Brussel sprouts
  Cabbage
  Carrots
  Cauliflower
  Celery
  Chard
  Chicory
  Dill
  Endive
  Fennel root
  Leeks
  Parsley
  Romaine lettuce
  Radishes
  Rutabaga
  Spinach
• Fruit:
  Avocado *
  Clementines
  Grapefruit
  Lemons
  Oranges
  Refrigerated apples (October harvest)
  Tangerines
• Dried Fruit & Nuts:
  Almonds
  Chestnuts
  Raisins
  Walnuts

 

MARCH

• Vegetables and Herbs:
  Artichokes
  Asparagus (white and green)
  Beets
  Broccoli
  Brussel sprouts
  Cabbage
  Carrots
  Cauliflower
  Celery
  Chard
  Chicory
  Dill
  Endive
  Fennel root
  Leeks
  Parsley
  Peas
  Romaine lettuce
  Radishes
  Rutabaga
  Spinach
• Fruit:
  Avocado *
  Clementines
  Lemons
  Oranges
  Refrigerated apples
  Tangerines

 

APRIL

• Vegetables and Herbs:
  Artichokes
  Asparagus
  Beets
  Broad beans (fava beans)
  Broccoli
  Brussel sprouts
  Cabbage
  Carrots
  Cauliflower
  Chard
  Chicory
  Dill
  Green onions
  Leeks
  Peas
  Parsley
  Rutabaga (end of season)
  Romaine lettuce
  Spinach
  Zucchini
• Fruit:
  Avocado *
  Clementines
  Lemons
  Oranges
  Refrigerated apples
  Tangerines 

 

MAY

• Vegetables and Herbs:
  Asparagus (end of season)
  Beets
  Broccoli (end of season)
  Cabbage
  Carrots
  Celery
  Chard
  Chicory
  Dill
  Endive
  Fennel leaves
  Fresh beans
  Immature cucumbers
  Immature eggplant
  Parsley
  Peas
  Peppers
  Radishes
  Romaine lettuce
  Spinach
  Vlita (Palmer amaranth)
  Zucchini
• Fruit:
  Apricots
  Avocado *
  Cherries
  Immature melons
  Loganberries
  Loquats
  Raspberries
  Strawberries
  Summer oranges (Valencia)
• Dried Fruit & Nuts:
  Immature walnuts (green)
  Immature pistachios (from the island of Aegina)

 

JUNE

• Vegetables and Herbs:
  Cucumber
  Eggplant
  Fresh beans
  Fresh garlic
  Green onions
  Parsley
  Peas
  Peppers
  Potatoes
  Radishes
  Spinach
  Tomatoes *
  Vlita (Palmer amaranth)
  Zucchini
• Fruit:
  Apricots
  Avocado *
  Cherries
  Loganberries
  Loquats
  Melons
  Morello (sour) cherries
  Nectarines
  Peaches
  Pears
  Raspberries
  Strawberries
  Summer oranges (Valencia)
  Watermelon

 

JULY

• Vegetables and Herbs:
  Beets
  Cabbage
  Carrots
  Celery
  Chard
  Chicory
  Cucumber
  Dill
  Eggplant
  Endive
  Fennel leaves
  Fresh beans
  Fresh garlic
  Green onion
  Okra
  Parsley
  Peas
  Peppers
  Potatoes
  Radishes
  Romaine lettuce
  Summer squash
  Tomatoes *
  Vlita (Palmer amaranth)
  Zucchini
• Fruit:
  Apples
  Apricots
  Figs
  Loganberries
  Melons
  Morello (sour) cherries
  Nectarines
  Peaches
  Pears
  Strawberries
  Watermelon

 

AUGUST

• Vegetables and Herbs:
  Beets
  Cabbage
  Carrots
  Celery
  Chard
  Chicory
  Cucumbers
  Dill
  Eggplant
  Endive
  Fennel leaves
  Fresh beans
  Fresh garlic
  Green onions
  Okra
  Parsley
  Peppers
  Potatoes
  Radishes
  Romaine lettuce
  Summer squash
  Tomatoes *
  Vlita (Palmer amaranth)
  Zucchini
• Fruit:
  Apples
  Figs
  Grapefruit
  Grapes
  Melons
  Nectarines
  Peaches
  Pears
  Plums
  Watermelon

 

SEPTEMBER

• Vegetables and Herbs:
  Eggplant
  Okra
  Onions (root)
  Potatoes
  Purslane
  Tomatoes *
  Zucchini
• Fruit:
  Apples
  Figs
  Grapes
  Melons
  Plums
  Watermelon
• Nuts:
  Fresh walnuts
  Pistachios (from Aegina)

 

OCTOBER

• Vegetables and Herbs:
  Cucumber
  Dill
  Endive
  Fennel leaves
  Fennel root
  Fresh beans
  Dried beans
  Onions (root)
  Peppers
  Radishes
  Romaine lettuce
  Rutabagas
  Tomatoes *
  Vlita (Palmer amaranth) (end of season)
  Zucchini
• Fruit:
  Apples
  Grapes
  Kiwi fruit
  Lotus fruit (persimmons)
  Olives **
  Quince
  Pomegranates
• Dried Fruit & Nuts:
  Almonds
  Dried figs
  Raisins
  Walnuts

 

NOVEMBER

• Vegetables and Herbs:
  Beets
  Broccoli
  Brussel sprouts
  Cabbage
  Carrots
  Cauliflower
  Celery
  Chard
  Chicory
  Endive
  Fennel root
  Leeks
  Onions (root)
  Potatoes
  Romaine lettuce
  Spinach
• Fruit:
  Apples
  Grapefruit
  Lemons
  Olives **
  Oranges
  Pears
  Pomegranates
  Tangerines
• Dried Fruit & Nuts:
  Almonds
  Chestnuts
  Dried figs
  Hazelnuts
  Raisins

 

DECEMBER

• Vegetables and Herbs:
  Beets
  Broccoli
  Brussel sprouts
  Cabbage
  Carrots
  Cauliflower
  Celery
  Chard
  Chicory
  Dill
  Endive
  Fennel root
  Romaine lettuce
  Leeks
  Parsley
  Parsnips
  Potatoes
  Rutabagas
  Spinach
• Fruit:
  Apples
  Avocado *
  Clementines
  Grapefruit
  Lemons
  Olives **
  Oranges
  Pears
  Tangerines
• Dried Fruit & Nuts:
  Almonds
  Chestnuts
  Dried figs
  Hazelnuts
  Raisins

* Avocadoes and tomatoes are classified as both fruit and vegetable. For the purposes of this list, avocadoes are listed as a fruit, and tomatoes are listed as a vegetable.

** Olives are fully mature in January, however they are harvested beginning in October while still green