How to Eat Seasonally in Summer in Kansas
Have you ever found the perfect recipe, only to discover while browsing the produce section that a few of the items you need look a little questionable — or aren’t there at all?!
Chances are, those ingredients are out of season.
We all know the letdown of having your heart — and taste buds — set on a particular recipe, only to find the ingredients you need are suspect. However, we also know you can buy tomatoes in December, if you really want them, even though they don’t taste nearly as good as they do in July.
Fresh, seasonal fruits and veggies are some of life’s great pleasures. But unpredictable Kansas weather, coupled with all the imported produce options available, can make it difficult to keep the seasons straight in the grocery aisles. What should you be looking for this season to get the very best taste, availability and quality?
Kansas Summer Fruits
Summer is the time for fruits to shine! Take advantage of fresh fruits because they have a shorter window for availability and quality than vegetables do.
Juicy, drip-down-your-chin peaches and other varieties of nature’s candy are prime this time of year. In Kansas, these fruits are only at their peak for a small stretch between May and August.
Look for:
- Apricots
- Blackberries
- Cherries
- Peaches
- Plums and pluots
- Raspberries
- Tomatoes (This isn’t in the wrong list, tomatoes are technically a fruit. But you already knew that, didn’t you?)
Kansas Summer Vegetables
If you’re more of a veggie lover, this season has plenty of options for you! Many vegetables hit their prime during the summer months; some continue their season into fall, or even longer.
Be sure to try:
- Asparagus
- Chard
- Corn
- Cucumbers
- Green beans
- Green onions
- Parsnips
- Peppers
- Radishes
- Spinach
- Summer squash
Summer is an abundant time for produce in Kansas! Visit your local grocery store or farmers market and keep an eye out for these in-season goodies.
To ensure you don’t have an ingredient fiasco, choose recipes that include the best produce for this time of year. Check out a few of our favorites here.
Summer Recipes
