Cheapest Fruits and Vegetables Month-by-Month

Buy produce in season for the best price and taste

Written by
Erin Huffstetler

Erin Huffstetler is a writer with experience writing about easy ways to save money at home.

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Erin Huffstetler
Updated 01/15/21
Fruits and vegetables

istetiana / Getty Images

An easy way to save on fruits and vegetables is to buy what's in season when they are at their most plentiful. And there's a bonus that money can't buy when you follow this strategy: Fruits and vegetables always taste better when they are in season in your area and are harvested closer to the peak of freshness than those that spend a lot of time in shipping that might cover thousands of miles. There's an old saying that holds a lot of truth: "There's nothing so rare as true love and homegrown tomatoes." Seasonal fruits and vegetables might be fleeting, but they are literally the pick of the crop.

Here's a guide to help you find the best produce deals month-by-month. Need recipe ideas? Just click on any of the linked foods.

  • 01 of 14

    January

    Woman picking produce
    Django / Getty Images

    Buy broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, grapefruit, kale, leeks, lemons, oranges, parsnips, rutabagas, tangelos, tangerines, and turnips in this deep winter month.

  • 02 of 14

    February

    Citrus fruits

    Cultura Exclusive / Magdalena Niemczyk - ElanArt / Getty Images

    February's best buys are similar to those in January: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, grapefruit, kale, leeks, lemons, oranges, parsnips, rutabagas, tangelos, and turnips.

  • 03 of 14

    March

    Brussels sprouts

    Michael Moeller / EyeEm / Getty Images

    March changes up the season list somewhat with artichokes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, parsnips, pineapples, radishes, rutabagas, and turnips.

  • 04 of 14

    April

    Fresh asparagus
    Ekaterina Smirnova / Getty Images

    This first full month of spring brings artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, pineapples, radishes, rhubarb, and spring peas. Asparagus is a traditional part of Easter dinner and other spring feasts.

    Continue to 5 of 14 below.
  • 05 of 14

    May

    Female farmer carrying crate with vegetables
    Daniel Grill / Getty Images

    The list starts to lengthen in May as spring deepens with apricots, artichokes, asparagus, cherries, lettuce, mangoes, okra, pineapples, radishes, rhubarb, spring peas, strawberries, Swiss chard, and zucchini.

  • 06 of 14

    June

    Cherries in a bowl
    Brian Macdonald / Getty Images

    June welcomes summer and brings a fruit-heavy harvest of apricots, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, corn, kiwi, lettuce, mangoes, peaches, strawberries, Swiss chard, watermelon, and zucchini.

  • 07 of 14

    July

    Close-Up Of Fruits On Table
    Roman Larin / EyeEm / Getty Images

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

  • 08 of 14

    August

    Bowl of fruit
    Elisabeth Coelfen / EyeEm / Getty Images

    The bountiful harvest of summer continues in August with acorn squash, apples, apricots, blueberries, butternut squash, cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, figs, green beans, kiwi, kohlrabi, lettuce, mangoes, okra, peaches, peppers, plums, raspberries, strawberries, summer squash, Swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelon, winter squash, and zucchini.

    Continue to 9 of 14 below.
  • 09 of 14

    September

    Fresh colorful tomatoes
    istetiana / Getty Images

    The still-warm days of September bring acorn squash, apples, beets, butternut squash, cantaloupe, cauliflower, eggplant, figs, grapes, green beans, lettuce, mangoes, mushrooms, okra, peppers, persimmons, pomegranates, pumpkins, spinach, sweet potatoes, Swiss chard, and tomatoes.

  • 10 of 14

    October

    Wooden basket full of fresh vegetables
    Brzozowska / Getty Images

    The first full month of fall isn't short on seasonal produce, with acorn squash, apples, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, cabbage, cauliflower, cranberries, grapes, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, parsnips, persimmons, pomegranates, pumpkins, rutabagas, spinach, sweet potatoes, Swiss chard, turnips, and winter squash.

  • 11 of 14

    November

    Vegetable harvest variety in a wood crate

    Caiaimage / Adam Gault / Getty Images

    November is the time to buy beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cranberries, leeks, mushrooms, oranges, parsnips, pears, persimmons, pomegranates, pumpkins, rutabagas, spinach, sweet potatoes, tangerines, turnips, and winter squash.

  • 12 of 14

    December

    Assorted cabbage

    "Timmann, Claudia" / Getty Images

    Deep in December, the seasonal shelves hold broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, grapefruit, kale, leeks, mushrooms, oranges, papayas, parsnips, pears, pomegranates, rutabagas, sweet potatoes, tangelos, tangerines, and turnips.

    Continue to 13 of 14 below.
  • 13 of 14

    Always a Good Deal

    Bananas On Table
    Thu Thai Thanh / EyeEm / Getty Images

    No matter what season is it, bananas, celery, and potatoes are always tasty and always a good buy.

  • 14 of 14

    Freeze Some for Later

    Frozen blackberries in a bowl
    Westend61 / Getty Images

    Many of the fruits and vegetables on this list freeze well. Buy extra while they're in season so you can enjoy them throughout the year.