What's In Season in Kansas City: Fall Fruits and Vegetables

Get Fresh & Buy Local

early spring

Lettuces/Salad Mix | Microgreens (year-round) | Morel | Mushrooms | Radishes | Spinach | Starter Plants/Transplants

mid-spring

Arugula | Asparagus | Beets | Broccoli | Brussels Sprouts | Cabbage | Cauliflower | Fava Beans | Fresh Herbs | Garlic Scapes | Green Garlic | Green Onions/Scallions | Lettuce | Kale | Pea shoots | Peas | Radishes | Rhubarb | Spinach | Strawberries | Spring Garlic | Starter Plants/Transplants | Swiss Chard

late spring / early summer

Broccoli | Cabbage | Carrots | Cauliflower | Collard Greens | Flowers | Fresh Herbs | Green Beans | Green Onions/Scallions | Kale | Kohlrabi | Lettuce | Spring Onions | Peas | Potatoes | Radishes | Rhubarb | Spinach | Squash Blossoms | Strawberries | Swiss Chard | Tomatoes | Turnips

proteins

Beef | Bison | Cheese: Artisan and Farmstead | Chicken | Eggs | Lamb | Pork | Milk | Tofu | Tempeh | Other | Breads and Pastries | Granola and Grains | Honey | Jams and Jellies | Jerky

The availability of these foods will vary depending on growing conditions, growing methods, planting schedules, and location.

Sources: Farmer Alicia Ellingsworth of Cultivate Kansas City/Gibbs Road Farm and Seasonal and Simple: A guide for enjoying fresh fruits and vegetables by the University of Missouri Extension.

Spring...

Seasons create a natural backdrop for healthy eating. Springtime is here, which means lighter dishes and sunnier days. Our heavier winter palettes can be refreshed with tender leafy greens. Savory flavors are easily infused into dishes with uniquely seasonal ingredients like morel mushrooms and garlic scapes. Seasonal allergies can be alleviated with pungent crucifers like radishes and arugula; bite into a spicy radish, and notice the immediate relief your sinuses will feel!

Many of the fresh foods that become available during the spring season are fleeting. Farmer Alicia Ellingsworth of Gibbs Road Farm advises, “Don’t hesitate to snap up a bag of peas at the market as soon as you see them. They will likely be gone when you come back.”

Welcome this change in seasons by spending more time outdoors. Take the kids on an outing to a u-pick berry farm or asparagus farm, and create lasting food memories that they will cherish. If you are cultivating your own garden, take advantage of the jump our local farmers have given us by purchasing transplants from them at the market. Even if it is just a few simple herbs you grow in pots, you will reap many rewards from having the convenience of garden fresh food right outside your back door.

The new growth of spring affords us many opportunities for eating deliciously, so get out and enjoy this season of renewal and the fresh flavors it brings!

— Lisa Markley

Featured Seasonal Recipes:

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Spring Salad with Ribboned Asparagus, Strawberries, and Lemon Poppy Seed Vinaigrette