Seasonal eating is essential to getting the most enjoyment out of food. Living in France and Italy, it has been delightfully simple to find the best seasonal and local produce. Farmers markets are abundant and you learn through the seasons when to expect the freshest asparagus or the first sight of rhubarb. Geography of course will influence what is available in your own region, but this guide will help my fellow Northern-hemisphere folks to understand what to look out for and relish in the spring!
Benefits of Prioritizing Seasonal Produce
As one of my favorite culinary creators, Piece Abernathy, puts it, “the closer we can get to our food – in terms of it being less processed and more in line with the seasons – the happier and more conscious we’ll be in other areas of our lives.” I couldn’t agree more. Being close to your food means embracing seasonality and the natural cycles of agriculture.
It may sound great to have access to everything, everywhere, all the time but it is actually more of a problem than a solution. Just because you have the option to buy strawberries in the depths of winter doesn’t mean you should. Not only will they taste mediocre, but you will miss out on the joy that comes from the anticipation of the arrival of strawberry season. Plus, forcing out-of-season product in markets leads to plenty of sustainability issues too.
Before I start ranting, I will leave you with this one simple reason to eat seasonally: you will be happier! Of course, because your food will taste better and who doesn’t want that, but it’s also the anticipation. Psychology research has already proven anticipation is a key part of experiencing happiness. Eating seasonally is just one way to take advantage! So, let’s get into what to get excited for in spring.
In-Season Produce
- Artichoke
- Leeks
- White Asparagus
- Green Asaparagus
- Radish
- Ramps
- Leafy greens (you’ll see more at the markets this time of year, I love arugula and all kinds of lettuce)
- Bitter greens (arugula, endive, radicchio, chicory)
- Spinach
- Carrots
- Fava beans
- Rhubarb
- Apricots
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Beets
There are plenty of other amazing ingredients that are still seasonal in spring and you may even have other special local produce to discover!
Seasonal Spring Recipes
Now that you have your spring produce, what do you do with it? Below are a few of my favorite recipes that I repeat every spring.
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Sydney is a 29-year old American living between France and Italy. She has a WSET Level 2 certification in wine, along with a degree in environmental engineering and an MBA. She loves exploring local farmer’s markets, haunting her favorite wine bar, and discovering new restaurants.
