By Katie Crabb, Dietetic Intern, Farm to Fork
What Does “In Season” Mean?
Every month you hear about different foods that are “in season.” Have you ever wondered what that means? Well, from apples to asparagus, every produce item has its very own “season.” This means that items are ripe around the same time each year. For example, have you ever noticed that around November and December, you start to see mandarin oranges in the grocery store and the price of them begins to fall? This is because during that time mandarin oranges are ripe on the tree and ready to be delivered to the store. The price of these oranges falls because there is a large amount of them available to be purchased. These mandarin oranges are “in season” in the winter.
So, what is in season right now?
In December, there are many produce items that are in season at your local grocery store. Right now you should see many vegetables including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and mushrooms. There are also many citrus fruits like grapefruit, limes, and oranges. You may see all of these items offered at a lower price because they are in season. Now this does not mean that you cannot find these items when they are not in season, however, they may be more expensive because they are not grown locally and will need to travel further to get to your local grocery store. To see what is in season at anytime in California, check out the California Farm to Fork website!
What is in season all year?
All year round you should be able to find some items that are not perishable such as dried fruits, dried beans, rice, and nuts. There are also produce items grown in California that are available all year round such as carrots.
What can I make with foods in season at a reasonable cost?
Eating fresh fruits and vegetables can be costly and time-consuming, however, with the right recipe, eating healthy can be hassle-free. Here is a recipe using produce items that are in season during the winter months all with a total serving cost of $0.57 ($3.42 for total recipe) and preparation time of around 30 minutes. You can also create your own quiche using vegetables that are in season during other months, too!
Vegetable Quiche
Ingredients
| 1 | Pie Crust (9-inch) |
| 1 stalk | Broccoli |
| ½ cup | Mushrooms |
| ½ stalk | Celery |
| ½ cup | Cheese |
| 3 | Eggs |
| 1 cup | Milk (non-fat) |
| ½ tsp. | Salk |
| ½ tsp. | Pepper |
| ½ tsp. | Garlic powder |
Makes 6 servings
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Follow directions to pre-bake pie crust.
- Shred cheese into small bowl and set aside.
- Chop vegetables into bite-sized pieces.
- Sautee vegetables for 3-5 minutes.
- Place vegetables and cheese in cooked pie crust.
- Mix eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in bowl.
- Pour egg mix over cheese and vegetables.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes ( until knife inserted in center of dish comes out clean)
- Cool quiche for 5 minutes before serving.
Resources
California Department of Food and Agriculture. California Farm to Fork. 2103. Web.
United States Department of Agriculture. Snap-Ed. 20 November 2013. Web.