WIS May

Happy May! With warmer weather, grilling season is just around the corner. What better to grill than fresh produce? While you’re at the grocery store, make sure to pick up some of these in-season fruits and veggies.

Knowing what fresh produce items are in season when you head to the grocery store can not only save you money but also means that you’ll be enjoying fruits and veggies at their peak!

Healthy eating doesn’t have to be expensive. Planning meals around in-season fresh produce is one of the easiest ways to save on groceries. Click on each of the listed items for tips on how to pick, prepare and store these seasonal fruits and veggies, along with tasty recipe ideas.

What’s in Season for May:

Artichokes

Don’t be intimidated by this spiky veggie! Artichokes aren’t difficult to prepare. Learn more about how to select, store and prepare artichokes on our Produce Tips page.

Asparagus

Known for being green, asparagus also comes in while and purple! A very good source of fiber, folate, and Vitamins A, C, E and K, this veggie is a great one to add to meals. Try asparagus roasted in the oven, on the grill or mixed in with pasta salads, stif-fry and more.

Avocados

Avocado lovers can rejoice – this favorite food is available year-round! Whether you’re topping toast, swapping in for a healthier dessert (hello, Dark Chocolate Avocado Brownies!) or whipping up a bowl of guacamole, you can pick up avocados in stores all year.

Bananas

This favorite fruit is in season year-round making it easy to eat as a snack or add to smoothies, muffins, pancakes and turn into “nice” cream. Fun fact: the average American eats 28 pounds of bananas per year!

Beets

Beets get a bad rep due to their earthy taste, but roasting them brings out their natural sweetness and makes them perfect for adding to salads, blending into smoothies and more.

Blueberries

While blueberries can be found year-round in most regions, April to September is peak season. There are lots of great reasons to reach for blueberries. Did you know blueberries contain antioxidants that can improve vision, motor skills and reverse short-term memory loss associated with age-related diseases? Try them in this Easy Fruit Salsa, delicious baked oatmeal, in muffins, smoothies or even salads.

Bok Choy

Bok choy is a type of Chinese cabbage with a mild flavor that’s delicious both raw and cooked. While bok choy is usually available year-round, it’s at its peak in colder months. Try it in a stir-fry, salad, soup, or this homemade Instant Pot Chicken Ramen!

Broccoli

This veggie is full of vitamins and nutrients your body needs. Fresh broccoli is available year-round and can be added to almost any meal. Chop and add to a salad or turn into a broccoli slaw, steam or roast for an easy side dish, or toss into pasta salads, stir-fry, cornbread muffins and more.

Carrots

Carrots aren’t just for Bugs Bunny! This kid-favorite veggie can simply be served with a side of ranch for dipping, roasted (bringing out a natural sweetness), steamed, or shredded and added to muffins, soups, mac n cheese, meatballs and more.

Cauliflower

Talk about a comeback veggie! Cauliflower is taking the culinary world by storm and popping up in everything from pizza crust to fried rice. This versatile veggie can be used to make pesto, added to mashed potatoes for a lighter dish, turned into savory waffles or used to replace rice in classic casseroles.

Celery

This crunchy veggie is best known by kids as the base of Ants on a Log, but can also be used in many different ways to add flavor and texture to dishes. Chop and add to a potato salad, use as a base for soups, add crunch to salads and more.

Cherries

Does anyone else wait all year for cherries to be in season? Cherry season starts in May, although depending on where you live you might not see a lot of fresh cherries until June. Make sure to stock up and get your fill during the late spring and summer months, they won’t be back in stores until next year! Try them grilled, on a pizza, baked in oatmeal or as dessert!

Citrus

Fresh citrus like grapefruit, oranges, tangerines and mandarins are in season! As an excellent source of Vitamin C, citrus can help keep those pesky colds away or try your hand at one of these 16 Kid-Friendly Citrus Recipes!

Corn

Grab your fresh corn on the cob! Late spring and summer mean corn on the cob is in abundance at your local grocery store. Shrimp boil anyone? We also can’t forget a good grilled corn on the cob recipe!

Grapes

Grapes are a perfect treat for warmer months! They’re light, refreshing and easily packed for picnics, summer lunches and more. Grapes are also an excellent source of Vitamin C, potassium and Vitamin K. Check out some of our favorite grape recipes!

Green Beans

Green beans are a family favorite and for good reason! Green beans are an excellent source of fiber and Vitamin A. They’re also a good source of folates, Vitamin B6, thiamin, Vitamin C. Store unwashed green beans in a plastic bag or container in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator for up to 4 days before enjoying. Add them to your favorite sheet pan dinner, soups, and more.

Greens

Fresh greens like kale, spinach, lettuce, and many others are the basis for so many tasty recipes like salads or for pumping up nutrition in smoothies, soups, casseroles, pasta dishes and more.

Kiwi

This little brown fruit was named after New Zealand’s national bird, the kiwi. Fuzzy and brown on the outside, bright green or yellow on the inside, this fruit adds color to any dish. Make these Fruity Pita Sandwiches or toss in a fruit salad for family gatherings.

Leeks

Leeks have a mild, onion-like taste and are related to onions, garlic, shallots and chives. Make sure to thoroughly rinse leeks and pay fry with a paper towel before consuming. You can roast them, add them to a salad, use as a garnish for soups, add to casseroles and much more.

Lemons & Limes

Both lemons and limes are in season year-round and are great for adding flavor to dishes. Juice and use for a fresh, homemade salad dressing, use season chicken, fish or veggies, or combine to add zing to these Baked Avocado Fries!

Mango

Look for fresh mangos that give slightly with squeezed gently, these ones will be ripe and ready to eat! Keep unripe mango stored on the counter until ripe. Blend into these smoothie popsicles, added to a tangy stir fry, or enjoyed in a fresh salad.

Mushrooms

Did you know Mushrooms are the only natural food source of Vitamin D? Mushrooms are so versatile, you can blend and add to tacos or burgers, used as a base for these Pizza Stuffed Mushrooms or added to easy weeknight dinners like this Asian Chicken Stir Fry.

Okra

We’re hitting the end of okra season, so grab them while you can! To avoid slimy okra when cooking, soak them in vinegar for 30 minutes before cooking.

Papaya

Papaya may seem like an exotic fruit, but it’s a common fruit found throughout the year in most stores. Don’t be intimidated by getting one. They’re easy to eat! Just cut in half, scoop out the seeds, then scoop out the fruit and enjoy!

Peaches

Another fruit we can get enough of this time of year is peaches! Be careful not to squeeze peaches when selecting them at the store. They bruise easily! Look for ones that are soft to the touch but not mushy. Store firm, unripened peaches on the counter until ripe or place ripe peaches in the refrigerator to keep them fresh longer. Check out some of our favorite ways to enjoy peaches.

Peas

While you can find frozen peas year-round, there’s nothing like fresh peas, which are in season during spring and early summer months. When buying peas, look for medium-sized pods with smaller peas for sweeter peas. Try in this Quick & Easy Tuna Pasta Salad for the perfect spring dish!

Pineapple

While pineapples are available year-round, peak season is March through July. This sweet fruit is full of Vitamin C, manganese, copper and folate! When picking a pineapple, make sure to give them a sniff – you should smell the sweet, distinctive smell of pineapple. Enjoy in a fruit salad, smoothie bowl, or as these fun fruit breakfast skewers!

Potatoes

With more than 600 types of potatoes sold in the US, the possibilities are endless. While potatoes sometimes get a bad rep, skin-on potatoes are full of Vitamin C, potassium and Vitamin B6. Whether you’re looking for healthy ways to top a baked potato, different ways to season roasted potatoes or just healthy potato recipes, we’ve got you covered.

Strawberries

Florida strawberry season is in full swing! This favorite fruit has endless possibilities beyond just snacking. Blend into muffins, make the perfect smoothie, add to a delicious fruit salsa or top off your pancakes.

Stone Fruit

We already covered off on cherries and peaches, but other varieties of stone fruit are also in season, including apricots, nectarines, plums and pluots.

Vidalia® Onions

Vidalia Onions are in season! Onions are a staple in our kitchen and we use them in multiple meals each week. While I still haven’t mastered cutting onions without crying, we can’t deny they’re essential to adding flavor to everything from soups and chili to meatballs and breakfast burritos.

Zucchini

Rich in fiber, Vitamin A and Vitamin C, zucchini helps lower cholesterol, guards against asthma and strengthens teeth and bones. Store zucchini unwashed in a perforated plastic bag in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator for up to 5 days. Enjoy on a pizza, in muffins, as “fries”, or on the grill.