NYC Grocer Guide: Fruits and Vegetables in Season This Spring
Written by Michelle Manis
There’s truly nothing like bringing home locally grown fruits and vegetables that are freshly in season. Read on to learn what tasty, healthy produce is in season this spring, and which local grocers are selling the best picks in New York City. If you’re looking to spice up your reusable bag collection, Berry’s got you covered, too. Pick up your produce in our oversized tote and go grocery shopping in style! Without further ado, let’s get into what’s in season, and what you’ll soon be eatin’!
Fruits
Strawberries
Here at The Berry Collective, we clearly love our berries! There’s nothing like a nice picnic with some fresh strawberries and cream in the springtime. Luckily, these in season fruits are available and fresher than ever. If you’re looking to invest in fresh organic produce, I’d recommend heading to PopUp Grocer, a “better for you” small business grocery store in Greenwich Village or Happier Grocery in Soho, NYC’s Erewhon (IYKYK), and picking up the Oishii strawberries. Oishii strawberries are some of the best quality you can get, both organic and vertically grown.
Avocados
Avocado toast thrives in the spring! These nutrient dense “good fat” fruits are in season and ready to be added to your favorite salads, breakfast sandwiches, and toasts. My favorite way to eat avocados is in my homemade chicken salad. Toss cooked chicken in a bowl with a scoop of cage-free mayo and half of an avocado, and mix until the desired consistency. Spread it on your favorite bread and you have a quick, delightful, and delicious sandwich you could take on your picnic to enjoy with your berries and fresh cream. Check out Union Square’s Farmers Market on the weekends to take advantage of this temperamental fruit being in season and plentiful, which is definitely rare.
Lemons and Limes
Keep an eye out for lemonade stands because it’s prime time for lemons and limes. These small but mighty fruits pack a sour punch but are great sources of vitamin C. Squeeze a bit in for a refreshing, low calorie way to flavor your water. I’d recommend picking up affordable lemons and limes at Trader Joe’s this season.
Some other honorable fruit mentions include apricots, pineapples, kiwis, grapefruit, cherries, mangos, and mulberries.
Vegetables
Collard Greens, Kale, Spinach
No better time for a green juice/smoothie with all these folate rich, nutrient dense greens in season! These superfoods are high in vitamins A, C, and K, and are a good source of calcium and fiber. I enjoy a nice kale apple salad, with walnuts and raisins in the springtime, as well as a Kale Caesar salad from Fresh&Co. I’d recommend getting your greens from either a local farmer’s market, or MOM's Organic Market up in Dobbs Ferry, Westchester. When you stop by, be sure to bring your old batteries because they even have a recycling center–an extra way you can go green this Earth Day.
Carrots
Hummus’s best friend! Rich in vitamin A, carrots are my go-to for a healthy crunch. My favorite carrots are Trader Joe’s cut and washed carrots–a must have for anyone who wants to opt for a healthy snack in a pinch.
More veggies in season this spring include asparagus, peas, onions, artichokes, mushrooms, and leeks. If you’re looking for the perfect hummus to pair with your veggies, check out Little Sesame. Our Founder’s personal favorite is the herby jalapeno hummus. So delish!
Now that you know of some produce in season this spring, be sure to look into what local organic grocers have them in stock close to you. If you're NYC based, let us know if you check out MOM’s, PopUp Grocer, Happier Grocery or the others mentioned. Be sure to keep an eye out on our Instagram for recipes so you can learn how to enjoy your in season produce in new ways! Happy shopping!
Be well,
Michelle
