When I ventured outside to do chores this morning the thermometer registered a whopping thirteen degrees fahrenheit and this is only the second week of truly winter-like weather we’ve had; which means colder — much colder — is to come. In light of the temperature you can probably understand why I might have some reservations about writing a feature on What’s in Season Now; because here, almost nothing is in season. And as a fair weather kind of woman that makes me terribly cranky. If I’m honest what I really want to write is ‘NOTHING’, stomp my feet and pound my fists a bit for good measure and be done with it.
Sure, there are season-less and storable local fare available in the north. Meats, honey, jams and preserves, winter squashes, potatoes and other root crops, dried beans and grains are all getting a lot of mileage on our dinner table — and venison really is in season — but that’s hardly comforting when I know in locales south there are pomegranates falling from the backyard trees on which they grow and tangerines being harvested in earnest. It’s hardly comforting when I know in the heat of the southern, winter sun a second farmer’s market season is only just getting started.
So, what’s in season now where you are? That entirely depends; perhaps more so than during any other time of year. If you’re in the cold, white north as am I, nothing — or at least very little. If you’re in the warmer south however, some of the most delicious fruits of the season may very well be filling local market tables.
In cold climates look for:
- Meat
- Jams
- Preserves
- Honey
- Grains
- Dried Beans
- Winter Squash
- Potatoes
- Onions
- Garlic
- Greens
- Apples
- Pumpkin
If you’re in a warm climate look for:
- Citrus – Tangerines, Oranges, Grape Fruit, Lemons, Limes and the like
- Pomegranate
- Persimmons
- Shallots
- Leeks
- and a second season for those items mentioned in summer editions of What’s In Season Now