How to Shop Seasonally and Save Money when Nothing is Growing Locally

I had a Facebook conversation (you can check it out here pretty please?) about how much money our families spend on groceries each month.  The conversation eventually turned, as it usually does, to complaining that   fresh fruit and vegetables cost a lot more money.

I used to think that way about buying fresh fruit and vegetables too.

I also got frustrated when the media told me to eat locally and in season. Well that is all very well and good if you live in an area with a year round growing season. I don't. I shop Ohio grown as much as I can in the summer. I can’t during the winter and spring. Ohio has six months out of every year where nothing grows – including root vegetables.

From winter to spring, I sucked it up and paid the extra money if I wanted a summer squash or whatever. My grocery bill fluctuates seasonally. Less in summer, more in winter. I didn’t like it but I didn’t want to eat canned vegetables to cut costs either – yuck.

Then I started really reading the grocery store sales fliers each week on line instead of quickly flipping through them. I started planning my shopping list according to the fresh fruit and vegetables on sale that week. My grocery bill stayed the same year round because I accidentally started shopping seasonally.

The only difference is I have to shop seasonally by the growing seasons nationwide if nothing is growing in Ohio that month. That means I buy summer squash only when it is in season and not whenever I feel like it.

 My grocery bill - and our stomachs - couldn’t be happier.

Low Cost Seasonal Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Shopping Guide

This is a general seasonal shopping guide for nationwide growing seasons. Some of these in season items may cost more in your area due to shipping, organics, etc.

January Seasonal Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

Seasonal Produce - broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, collard greens, kale, avocado, cabbage, spinach

Seasonal Fruit: oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, clementine, pears, kiwi, apples   

February Seasonal Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

National Canned Food Month – Canned food, fruit, and vegetables, etc.

Chinese New Year - Asian vegetables such as bok choy, daikon radish, bean sprouts

Seasonal Fruit - oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, clementines, raspberries, strawberries

Seasonal Produce -   broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, collard greens, kale, avocado, cabbage, spinach, artichoke, asparagus, parsnips, potatoes, turnips

March Seasonal Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

Frozen Food Month - frozen vegetables (plain and in meals

Lent – meat free food, fish, cheese, etc.

Passover – brisket, matzo, etc.

Easter - candy, ham, eggs, vinegar, etc.

 St. Patrick’s Day – corned beef, cabbage, Irish soda bread, etc.

Seasonal Fruit - oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, clementines, raspberries, strawberries, lemon, lime, grapes, strawberries

Seasonal Produce -  broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, collard greens, kale, avocado, cabbage, spinach, artichoke, asparagus, parsnips, potatoes, turnips, fennel,   leek, mushrooms, onions, peas, radish, rhubarb,    

April Seasonal Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

Earth Month/Day - organic foods, plant based cleaners and healthy and beauty products, recycled products

Lent – meat free food, fish, cheese, etc.

Passover – brisket, matzo, etc.

Easter - candy, ham, eggs, vinegar, etc.

Seasonal Fruit - grapefruit, strawberries

Seasonal Produce- broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, avocado, cabbage, artichoke, asparagus, mushrooms, onions, peas, radish, rhubarb

May Seasonal Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

Cinco De Mayo - Mexican/Hispanic/Latin food and vegetables

Seasonal Fruit- raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, pineapple

Seasonal produce– Carrots, Avocado, Artichokes, Asparagus, onions, peas, green beans, beets, corn, potatoes

June Seasonal Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

National Dairy Month - eggs, milk, ice cream, cheese, cream cheese, butter, yogurt, whipped cream, and other dairy products

Seasonal Fruit - raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cherries, grapes, peaches, honeydew melon, watermelon, nectarines, apricots, 

Seasonal produce– Onions, corn, potatoes, eggplant, summer squash, cucumber, tomatoes

July Seasonal Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

National Ice Cream Month – ice cream

Seasonal Fruit - raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, cherries, grapes, peaches,   watermelon, nectarines, apricots cantaloupes, plums, pears figs, oranges,

Seasonal Produce– onions, corn, potatoes, eggplant, summer squash, cucumber, tomatoes, green beans, garlic, bell peppers,   

August Seasonal Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

Fresh fish

Vinegar and canning supplies

Seasonal Fruit –peaches, apricots,    berries, cherries, grapes, peaches, melons, apricots, plums, pears figs, apples,

Seasonal Produce - onions, corn, eggplant, squashes, cucumber, tomatoes, tomatillos, green peppers, avocado, green beans, beans, salad ingredients

September Seasonal Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

Vinegar and canning supplies

Canned goods
Seasonal Fruit – grapes, pears, apples, Valencia oranges, pomegranates

Seasonal Produce- Onions, corn, eggplant, summer squashes, cucumber, tomatoes, tomatillos, green peppers, beans, artichokes, broccoli, cauliflower, chili peppers, winter squashes

October Seasonal Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

National Seafood Month – fish and seafood

Halloween – pumpkins

Thanksgiving (end of October) – turkey, canned pumpkin, cranberries, sweet potatoes,

Coffee

Tea

Hot chocolate

Apple cider
Nuts and dried fruit – for holiday baking
Seasonal Fruit – grapes, pears, apples, cranberries, kiwis, lemons, oranges, almonds, chestnuts, pomegranates, pumpkins,

Seasonal Produce– winter squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, turnips, parsnips, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, artichokes, carrots, celery,  argali, chard, spinach

November Seasonal Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

Thanksgiving, Hanukah, and Christmas – see the categories below

Main dish meats – turkey, ham

Seasonal Fruit – apples, pears, kiwis, lemons, oranges, pumpkin, grapefruit, dates, kumquat, cranberries

Seasonal produce– winter squash, white potato, sweet potato, yams, turnips, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, beets, carrots, celery, bok choy, cauliflower,   avocados, kale, rutabaga, spinach

December Seasonal Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

Thanksgiving, Hanukah, Christmas, New Year’s – see the categories below

Main dish meats – turkey, ham

Seasonal Fruit – Pears, apples, Oranges, grapefruit, Lemon, Kiwi, Dates, Kumquat

Seasonal produce– winter squash, white potato, sweet potato, yams, turnips, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, celery, bok choy, cauliflower,   avocados, kale, rutabaga, spinach

How do you save money on fruit and vegetables?

Did you like this post? Get more like it by subscribing to the Lazy Budget Chef RSS feed or by subscribing to Lazy Budget Chef by email.