How To Shop Seasonally (Even At The Grocery Store)

A simple, seasonal lifestyle is applicable for anyone and everyone no matter their season of life. In this post I’m going to share how we can shop and eat seasonally not only through our local farmers but also through our everyday grocery stores.

Why we eat seasonally

Eating seasonally is a return to our roots. Due to convenience culture, this is a forgotten concept in our day. We have access to everything all year long at our grocery stores. Strawberries in the dead of winter, imported corn on the cob…But it’s important to keep in mind that just because something is at the store, doesn’t mean we should be buying it.

God created certain fruits and vegetables to naturally flourish at a certain time of the year. Ecclesiastes 3:1 states, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Simply put, eating seasonally means eating the fruits and vegetables that naturally grow during specific times of the year.

Eating seasonally is healthier, practices good stewardship, and is typically easier on our wallet. Produce that is grown in its God-given season is easier to grow organically without the use of artificial aids. This means the fruit or veggie is actually growing in the dirt in the ground, with real sunlight to nurture and nourish the plants—the way it should be. Because of this, the fruits and veggies contain their full nutrients and vitamins, all which are needed to support our bodies during each particular season. I find this to be the most compelling evidence of the importance of seasonal eating.

For example, in the summer, the fruits and veggies that are in-season, all contain nutrients that protect our skin from harmful UV rays, because summer is the time of the year we are in the sun the most! While in the spring, the light fresh veggies support our bodies in hydration after a dry winter, and restoring our appetites after heavy winter food. God’s hand in creation is fully evident here.

Not only that, but in-season produce also tastes better too. If you’ve ever tasted an imported winter strawberry versus a strawberry grown and harvested at the peak of its season, you know what I mean.

When produce is in-season, it is in abundance and typically sourced from closer locations, rather than being imported. This often results in good prices and even sales of in-season produce at the grocery stores. Something that’s important to keep in mind is that imported produce that has to travel a long way has to be picked prematurely in order to still be “fresh” when it hits our grocery store shelves. Unfortunately, prematurely picked produce results in a major loss of nutrients and vitamins. The closer to home you can source your food, the better.

Seasonal shopping at the grocery stores

Maybe you’re in the city and you don’t have access to local farmers. Maybe you’re just not ready to commit to a CSA box or buying local produce in bulk. Maybe you can’t always make it to the farmer’s market each week. Take heart. You can still embrace seasonal eating while keeping your usual grocery store routine.

The first step to shopping seasonally at grocery stores is to have a general idea of what is in season. This way you know ahead of time what fruits and veggies you’re going to pick out, and which you are going to avoid. For example, here in north in the springtime, things like radishes and asparagus are in season and we see them hit the shelves at a good price around April. Things like zucchini, corn, and tomatoes however, are not yet in season and are usually still imported during this time, making them quite expensive, and not so tasty. In this case, I would purchase the spring veggies (like asparagus and radishes!) and avoid the summer produce like corn and tomatoes. In May when berries start coming from California instead of Mexico, that’s when I know they will actually have flavor and I begin to buy them.

find what’s in season near you

That is just one example and will of course vary depending on where you live and what season you are experiencing. Click the button above for a helpful state-by-state resource!

Develop an arsenal of seasonal recipes

Planning your shopping lists around what is in season will help with grocery store runs, but how about cooking? Seasonal recipes make all the difference. As you embrace seasonal eating more and more, you will find that your recipe collection becomes more specific to each month. You’ll find that you pull out that asparagus pasta recipe during the spring while that hearty squash soup recipe is only enjoyed in fall and winter. You may even find yourself wanting to organize your recipe cards or binder into 4 sections— winter, spring, summer, and fall. This is how I organize mine :)

You can find meal inspiration for each season in our Guide to Eating Seasonally series, found at the bottom of this page. I also love using Pinterest to find seasonal meals. It may also be handy to print out a list of what’s in season and hang it up on your fridge. I’ve created 4 FREE printable that you will be sent straight to your inbox when you fill out the form below. Folks are LOVING these and I know you will too!

how and when to buy out-of-season

Knowing how to buy produce when it is out of season is also a part of seasonal eating. Ideally we would all be working to stock our freezers and cupboards with preserved produce during the summer (when it’s in season) to eat all winter long (when it’s not in season), but we know realistically not everyone is able to do that. So what can you do? What if you need strawberries in the middle of winter? Or corn for a certain dish in April?

Opt for frozen from a trustworthy brand. Frozen fruits and veggies are typically done right— picked at the peak of their season and frozen as soon as possible. No picking prematurely to still be “fresh” on the grocery store shelves, or losing nutrients while sitting in a refrigerated warehouse for weeks on end. I like to buy frozen produce from Azure Standard.

Seasonal shopping from local farmers

Going to farmers markets, farm stores, and pick-your-own places is hands down one of my favorite things about summer. I love having our “go-to” farmers that we support for different things. We have an egg farm, a maple syrup farm, a honey guy, a meat farm, no-spray blueberry farm, a no-spray strawberry farm, our favorite amish farms…

Shopping locally is a little easier because it will always guarantee that you’re eating seasonally. Local farmers are bringing to the market what they harvested just that same week. It’s fresher, healthier, and a great way to support your community. If you have the opportunity, shopping locally is a great way to dip your toes into season eating, even if it’s just a few things here and there.

To find farmers markets, pick-your-own, or CSA programs in your area, click here or here!

Remember, when it comes to something new (or rather should I say, returning to something old) you don’t have to go all in at first. Start paying attention to prices and country of origins in your grocery store produce section. Learn what is in season month-by-month according to your location. If something is on sale because it’s in season, stock up and freeze some for the months when it’s not.

I hope I have made this approachable for you! Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below.