California Farmers' Markets and Seasonal Produce

Recipes are listed alphabetically by the name of the fruit or vegetable, and the season is provided for each.


Artichokes: best in spring and fall but available year-round

Artichokes 101: How to Clean, Cook, and Eat Them




Mom's Stuffed Artichokes




Baby Artichoke and Asparagus Risotto





Apples: late summer, fall, and winter

Homemade Apple Sauce




Cranberry, Raisin, and Walnut Apple Sauce





Apricots: spring, early summer

Fresh Apricot Muffins




Fresh Apricot and Cherry Cobbler with Buttermilk Biscuit Crust




Arugula: best in winter and spring but available year-round

Arugula, Strawberry, and Sugar Snap Pea Salad




Wild Arugula and Blood Orange Salad with Prosciutto




Wild Arugula, Cantaloupe and Watermelon Salad with Prosciutto and Blue Cheese



Pasta with Arugula Pesto and Tomatoes




Wild Rocket (Wild Arugula) Pasta





Asparagus: available spring and early summer


Roasted Asparagus with Breadcrumbs and Parmesan




Citrus Spiked Asparagus




Italian Asparagus, Mushroom, and Parmesan Frittata




Baby Artichoke and Asparagus Risotto





Avocados: best in the winter but available year-round

Citrus-Avocado Salsa




Mexican Citrus Salad with an Orange-Lime Vinaigrette




Grilled Shrimp and Avocado Salad




Watercress, Avocado, and Orange Salad





Beet Greens: available spring, summer, and early winter

Creamy Goat Cheese and Beet Green Pasta





Berries: Blackberries (summer); Blueberries (summer), Raspberries (summer) , Strawberries (winter, spring, and summer)

Skinny Berry Parfaits







"Nude" Berry Tartlets




Fresh Blackberry, Oatmeal, and Cashew Cake




Peach and Blueberry Galette




Lemony Blueberry Corn Bread with Basil




Pancakes with Fresh Raspberry-Strawberry Sauce




Mini Custards with Limoncello-Spiked Raspberry Sauce




Fresh Strawberry, Almond, and Coconut Muffins




Strawberry-Mango Salsa




Seductive Strawberry Salad




Strawberry Rhubarb




Broccoli: best in winter and spring but available year-round

Cellentani with Lemony Broccoli, Toasted Walnuts, and Breadcrumbs




Broccoli Rabe, also called broccoli raab and rapini; best in winter and early spring but available year-round.

Fennel Sausage and Rapini Pizza






Sicilian Sardine and Broccoli Rabe Pasta




Broccoli Rabe (Rapini) and Sausage Sandwich with Sharp Provolone

Broccolini: spring

Broccolini and Sun-Dried Tomato Pie

Brussels Sprouts: late fall, winter, and early spring

Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Breadcrumbs and Lemon




Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Pears





Carrots: winter, spring, and summer

Roasted Rainbow Carrots and String Beans with Citrus-Sage Glaze




Roasted Rainbow Carrots with Chives and Thyme





Cauliflower, including Orange Cauliflower: fall, winter, and spring

Crispy Breaded Cauliflower with an Olive and Herb Tapenade




Orange Cauliflower Mac ' Cheese (yes, it's healthier and good)




Cherimoya: winter and early spring

Cherimoya (The greatest fruit on the planet?)




Cherries: late spring and early summer

Cherries 101





Mesclun, Cherry, and Goat Cheese Salad





Almond Crusted French Toast with Fresh Cherry Sauce





Savory Cherry and Rhubarb Chutney





Pork Tenderloin with Indian Spiced Cherry and Rhubarb Chutney




Fresh Apricot and Cherry Cobbler with Buttermilk Biscuit Crust




Fresh Cherry and Peach Upside-Down Cake





Quick Chocolate-Cinnamon Mousse with Cherries





Almond Panna Cotta with Glazed Cherries





Corn: summer and fall


Chipotle Chili Corn Chowder





Sweet Corn and Honey Muffins





Creamy Corn, Potato, and Sausage Chowder with Corn Relish





Sauteed Corn with Mint, Butter, and Lemon





Elote, or Mexican Grilled Corn





Barbecue Pizza with Fresh Summer Corn and Sweet Onions





Red Corn with Cilantro and Cotija Anejo Cheese





Dandelion Greens: spring and fall

Dandelion, Persimmon, and Medjool Date Salad





Eggplant: summer and fall

Grilled Eggplant with Roasted Red Pepper Tapenade




Fava Beans: spring

Fava Bean and Dill Crostini





Fennel: late fall, winter, and early spring

Sicilian Salad of Fennel, Oranges, and Olives

Sun-Dried Tomato and Fennel Risotto





Tagliatelle with Pan-Seared Shrimp and Fennel





Fennel Sausage and Rapini Pizza







Fresh Fig and Fennel Pizza





Savory Sausage and Fennel Galette





Figs: late summer, early fall

Fresh Fig, Arugula, and Mascarpone Bruschetta





Dessert Risotto with Wine-Poached Figs





Fresh Fig and Fennel Pizza





Grapefruit: winter, spring, and summer

Citrus-Avocado Salsa





Mexican Citrus Salad with an Orange-Lime Vinaigrette





Jicama: year-round

Watermelon-Mango-Jicama Salsa





Kabocha Squash: late fall, winter, early spring

Roasted Kabocha Squash with an Orange Honey Glaze





Kiwis: year round

Kiwi and Coconut Muffins





Kumquats: winter, early spring

Camembert and Kumquat Chutney Toasts




Pan Seared Sea Scallops with Kumquats





Lemons, including Meyer lemons and lemonquats: winter, early spring

Kona Kampachi with Meyer Lemon-Thyme Butter





Coconut Lemonquat Tea Cake





Mangoes: year-round

Mango Bread





Asian Noodle Salad with Tofu and Mango





Pineapple Mango Salsa





Pineapple-Mango-Habanero Salsa





Strawberry-Mango Salsa





Watermelon-Mango-Jicama Salsa





Medjool Dates: late summer, early fall

Date, Fennel, and Pistachio Scones (Heart Healthy & Low Fat!)




Low-Fat Lemony Medjool Date and Pomegranate Scones




Holiday Orange, Date, and Pecan Bread





Dandelion, Persimmon, and Medjool Date Salad





Mizuna: fall, winter, and spring

Mizuna and Broccoli Flower Salad





Oranges, including Blood Oranges, Cara-Caras, Clementines, Orangequats: winter and spring


Healthy Tofu and Vegetables with a Honey-Orange-Ginger Glaze




Honeyed Orange Ginger Muffins (Quat, Optional)





Citrus-Avocado Salsa




Upside-Down Clementine Cake




Italian Almond and Orange Torte with Blood Orange Compote




Mexican Citrus Salad with an Orange-Lime Vinaigrette

Sicilian Salad of Fennel, Oranges, and Olives

Tilapia with Zesty Blood Orange and Mango Salsa





Wild Arugula and Blood Orange Salad with Prosciutto





Parsnips: fall, winter, and early spring

Roasted Root Vegetables with Maple Sage Glaze





Peaches: summer and early fall

Peach and Blueberry Galette





Pears: summer, fall, early winter

Pear and Cardamom Cake





Watercress, Seckel Pear, and Brie Salad





Peas, including English, Sugar Snap, and Snow Peas; spring

Pasta Shells in Creamy Saffron Sauce with Shrimp and Peas




Warm Three Pea and Radish Salad





Persimmons: late fall, early winter

Persimmons 101, How to Select and Eat Them





Persimmon and Date Bread






Winter Jewel Fruit Salad





Persimmon and Pomegranate Salsa





Dandelion, Persimmon, and Medjool Date Salad





Peppers, including Habanero (year-round), Poblano (year-round), and Red Bell (best in summer and fall but available year-round)


Fruity Quinoa Stuffed Peppers




Roasted Peppers (A How-to Guide)





Goat Cheese and Poblano Quesadillas with Pineapple-Mango Habanero Salsa





Plantains: year-round

Caramelized Plantains with Honey and Lime





Pomegranate: late fall, early winter


Low-Fat Lemony Medjool Date and Pomegranate Scones





Winter Jewel Fruit Salad





Persimmon and Pomegranate Salsa





Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Pomegranate Glaze






Potatoes: Purple Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Yams. fall, winter, and spring

Patriotic Potato Salad





Potato, Rosemary, and Gorgonzola Pizza





Baked Yams with a Citrus Glaze and Toasted Pecans





Olive Oil, Caramelized Onion, and Sage Sweet Potatoes





Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Pomegranate Glaze





African Sweet Potato and Peanut Soup





Red Kale: year-round

Curried Red Lentil, Chickpea, and Kale Soup




Rhubarb: late spring and summer

Strawberry Rhubarb





Rutabagas: fall, winter, and early spring

Roasted Root Vegetables with Maple Sage Glaze





Strawberry Guavas: winter and spring

Strawberry Guavas




String beans: best in summer and fall but available year-round

String Beans with Prosciutto, Pine Nuts, and Meyer Lemon




String Beans and Tofu with Thai Peanut Butter Sauce




Sugar Snap Peas: spring

Arugula, Strawberry, and Sugar Snap Pea Salad





Tat Soi: available year round

Gingery Sauteed Tat Soi with Tofu Steaks




Tomatillos: year-round

Heuvos Rancheros with Salsa Verde





Tomatoes including cherry, heirloom: late spring, summer, and early fall

Pasta with Arugula Pesto and Tomatoes





Penne with Fresh Ricotta and Baby Heirloom Tomatoes





Turnips: late fall, winter, and early spring

Roasted Root Vegetables with Maple Sage Glaze





Watermelon: summer and early fall

Watermelon-Mango-Jicama Salsa





Watermelon and Green Olive Salad





Wild Arugula and Blood Orange Salad with Prosciutto




Wild Arugula, Cantaloupe and Watermelon Salad with Prosciutto and Blue Cheese




Grilled Watermelon Slices with a Honey-Lime Syrup





Watercress: best in winter and spring but available year-round

Watercress, Avocado, and Orange Salad





Watercress, Seckel Pear, and Brie Salad





Winter Squash, including Acorn, Butternut, Spaghetti: fall, winter, and spring


Roasted Kabocha Squash with an Orange Honey Glaze




Roasted Acorn Squash with Honey-Lime Glazed Pepitas





Roasted Acorn Squash with Medjool Dates and Toasted Almonds




Butternut Squash Risotto with Rosemary, Walnuts, and Blue Cheese




Spaghetti Squash with Butter and Cheese