What's in Season?

Here's when to visit Boston farmers' markets to find all the fresh, local, and delicious fruits and veggies.

July

July is high summer, and the racks at the farmer's markets are bursting with apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, green beans, kohlrabi, lettuce, okra, peaches, peppers, plums, raspberries, strawberries, summer squash, Swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelon, and zucchini.

August

As in July, you'll find summer squash, tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, melons and stone fruit. But by August, blueberries aren't as plentiful—blackberries have taken their place—and tomatoes really come into their own. Basil is in full bloom, so it's a good time to start making pesto!

September

Even though September technically marks the end of summer, it's certainly not the end of the bounty of fresh produce. After Labor Day there's usually a few more weeks of fresh corn and other summer favorites we've been enjoying, but we also get welcome apples, plums, okra, bell peppers, and shell beans.

October

October is the first full month of fall, and with it all things pumpkin. At the markets you'll see winter squash in every variety starting about now. Many pumpkins are sold for decoration or carving, so if you are looking for the best pumpkins to cook and eat, look for sugar pumpkins and kabocha. You'll also find acorn squash, butternut, and spaghetti squash, as well as thin-skinned delicata squash.