What's In Season?

With fall in full swing, the grocery stores around here are brimming with bright orange pumpkins, colorful winter squash, and rosy apples, reflecting the bounty of nearby farms.  But the shelves are also stocked with more well-traveled items like oranges and grapes.  For people who are trying to keep their environmental impact low, as well as those who just enjoy eating fresh, flavorful food, selecting produce that's in season is the best choice.  And while it's easy to tell that oranges don't grow on trees around here, it can be harder to sort out which greens and veggies are in season at every moment.  Fortunately, there are some websites that make finding out what's in season in your particular location a snap, without complex charts.  One good site is the Natural Resources Defense Council's Eat Local page.  You can search its database using the box below.

Another great resource is Epicurious' Seasonal Ingredient Map,which lets you choose the month and then click your state on a map to see a list of in-season food items.  Each item also links to a page with tips on how to select, prepare, and store that food, as well as providing recipes.

Enjoy!