Produce guides

These produce guides help you make the best use of fruits & vegetables when they are in season. They are based on research from university studies, expert opinions, as well as our own studies.

The guides include things like:

How to tell good from bad (or ripe from unripe)
Quality at the grocery store vs farmers market (highly dependent on each specific fruit and vegetable)
Best storage techniques
How long it should last when properly stored
Addressing specific problems (like bitterness in cucumbers, or substituting nectarines for peaches)
Recipes!!

Fruit guides

Vegetable guides

Asparagus

Brussels sprouts

Celery

Celery root (celeriac)

Pumpkins, butternut & other winter squash

Bell peppers are in season in summer and last through fall

Sweet & bell peppers

Sweet potatoes

Tomatoes

Eat in season - summer squash and zucchini are in season starting around June.

Zucchini & other summer squash

Or check out guides by month >>

Italian tomato, zucchini, and eggplant soup

This tomato soup recipe uses Italy's favorite summer vegetables: tomatoes, zucchini, and eggplants. It has a tomato-based flavor with Italian herbs. The zucchini and eggplant provide creaminess and significantly reduce the soup's acidity. Why roasting vegetables matters Picture a carrot boiled in water vs one that was roasted in the oven. Their flavors are significantly...

Loaded zucchini potato soup

This recipe takes a potato soup and replaces some potatoes with zucchini. No one ever seems to notice! It's lighter while maintaining the same beloved potato soup flavor and creamy consistency. It's yet another great way to use up zucchini from your garden. This recipe works with giant, overgrown zucchini as well as various varieties...

Zucchini quiche with cheddar & herbs

This zucchini quiche is a great way to use up the summer squash bounty from the garden. It uses 2 whole cups of shredded zucchini (or any variety of summer squash), which actually replaces several eggs. Double or triple it, adding flavor variations into each pan right before baking, like ham & bell peppers, sausage...