Summer is definitely upon Seattle. Wondering what's in season? Well, here's a list of vegetables and fruits in season in June - tons of spring greens, avocado, beets, carrots, strawberries, and a ton of other stuff!
Here's the June produce guide you've been waiting for. We've now said goodbye to citrus fruits, but there's a ton of new vegetables and fruits in the market. June is the start of summer in Seattle, so you might see variations in produce based on where you live. As always, I've tried to keep this list to the top 5-6 things that are in-season and broadly available across the US. For more seasonal recipes, don't forget to follow my boards on Pinterest.
One quick note: This post captures what I was able to find at my local grocery store - produce availability has been somewhat unpredictable these days due still. But without further ado, the June produce list!
🥗 Spring Greens & Herbs
Had to start with the best, because spring just means amazing greens! Summer is the time for green, leafy vegetables - I saw arugula, Collard greens, Swiss Chard, lettuce, endives, escarole, kale, and kohlrabi greens among others. In terms of herbs, I spotted rosemary, thyme, parsley, cilantro and a ton of other aromatics. The exact greens and herbs will vary based on where you live, but the abundance is hopefully consistent.
Spring also brings a bounty of different herbs (some of which you can and should plant if you have a small patch of land). So, it's time for so many hearty vegetarian salads, pesto, sauces - and also just a way to introduce them into other meals (smoothies, pasta, flatbread, you name it).
Check out some of my favorite recipes with spring greens & herbs:
- Delicious kale salad with a poached garlic-parsley dressing, inspired by Il Corvo, Seattle
- Fresh summer salad with spinach, avocados, and cotija cheese
- If you want to go off-the-beaten-path, check out this Nigerian Efo Riro (African spinach stew)
Other recipes with spring greens and herbs on Urban Farmie:
Greens & herbs recipes from bloggers I love:
- Herb butter, eight ways from Boulder Locavore
- Grilled Summer Herb Garden Pizza by Love & Lemons
- Summer Abundance Salad by Half Baked Harvest
🥕 Carrots
I love carrots - growing up, my mom used to make sauteed carrots tossed in coconut, and it was one of my favorite things to eat. Though you often think carrots are sweet, they can actually take on spicy or salty notes quite well!
Check out some of my recipes with carrots:
- Delicious Ethiopian cabbage and carrot stew (Atakilt Wat)
Carrot recipes from bloggers I love:
- Apple and carrot "superhero" muffins from Cookie & Kate
- Roasted potatoes and carrots from Well Plated
- Creamy Thai carrot sweet potato soup from Half Baked Harvest
🥑 Avocado
We're actually quite blessed to have a year-round supply of avocados, mainly due to our proximity to Mexico and the opposite nature of our growing seasons. The peak season for Mexican avocados is between November to April, so we're just nearing the end of it. The peak season for American avocados starts in May and runs through August.
There's so many ways in which you can use avocados! On this blog:
- Creamy vegan Caesar dressing and shaved Brussels Caesar salad
- The ultimate guide to avocado toasts and toppings (see below)
- I'm a massive fan of adding them to my gochujang cauliflower tacos.
Avocado recipes from bloggers I love:
- Grilled Avocado with Veggie Ceviche by Love and Lemons
- Blood Orange & Avocado Salad by Cookie + Kate
- Chocolate Avocado Mousse Tart by Rainbow Plant Life
🥬 Asparagus
Asparagus is definitely a favorite in the house, and something we rarely consume unless it's in-season. Asparagus is typically air-freighted from Latin America when it's not in season. In fact, the average greenhouse gas emissions for asparagus is nearly 8x that of avocados for instance.
So, as a hardcore environmentalist, I can never bring myself to buy fresh asparagus out of season (i.e. February to end of May or thereabouts, with a peak in April). Frozen and/or canned asparagus is still fine to use year-round but don't have the same flavor profile. So, enjoy asparagus while it's in season and try to avoid it during the other months if you can!
Couple of delicious asparagus recipes from bloggers I love:
- Spring Pea & Asparagus Risotto by Cookie + Kate
- Pistachio Crusted Asparagus with Feta by Joy the Baker
- Pesto Asparagus Noodles by Pinch of Yum
🥭 Radishes
I love radishes because they're so versatile. Often, I'd just chop them up and add them to an avocado toast or salad (or even for my tacos!) or you can roast them up with some olive oil, and sea salt - absolutely delicious. This is also the time to pickle some of the radishes - either using a simple brine, or more Asian style (like a kimchi).
Some stellar radish recipes:
- Mullangi Poriyal (i.e. Radish "Stir Fry") by Archana's Kitchen
- Radish Kimchi by Maangchi
- Lemony Lentil Salad with Radish and Chickpeas by Cookie and Kate
📋 Regional variations
Honestly, springtime has so many vegetables in season that this post would never end if I had to list every one of them. Some of our other favorites include broccoli, peas, green chickpeas, and strawberries! Check out this delicious, delicious strawberry shortcake cookie recipe I just posted!
Additionally, you'll probably start seeing more cherries and apricots on the West Coast, garlic scapes in the North East, and rhubarb in the Midwest. If you're looking for pantry-friendly classics to cook year-round, check out some of these dishes below:
If you try any of my recipes, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag #urbanfarmie on Instagram or @urbanfarmie on Pinterest!
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