April
As has been the case since the start of the year, the chart is still sparse; but April is the last month among this period of limited produce in Maryland. The months ahead promise truly bountiful meals.
Remember, the surrounding region can provide you with further variety and you can always supplement produce that’s in season with dried goods, canned/jarred foods, grains, and food you’ve frozen. And don’t forget about all the delicious recipes you can prepare! We’ve found some promising ones this month that we can’t wait to try!
In Season, but Not Necessarily Local:
Spring is upon us! April is the first full month of spring, yet we’re still a bit limited by what foods are available. (Though, it’s a significant improvement from the earlier months, wouldn’t you agree?) So, eating seasonal and local can still be slightly discouraging.
Now, you could stick exclusively to root vegetables and mushrooms, but don’t beat yourself up if you want to expand your palate. You can still feel good eating these not-necessarily-Maryland, but nevertheless in-season foods:
Vegetables:
- Artichokes
- Arugula
- Asparagus
- Beets
- Bok choy
- Broccoli
- Broccoli Rabe
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cardoons
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celeriac
- Celery
- Chard
- Chicory
- Collard Greens
- Cress
- Cucumbers*
- Dandelion Greens
- Endive
- Fava Beans
- Fava Greens
- Fennel
- Garlic
- Green Garlic
- Herbs
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Lambsquarters
- Leeks
- Lettuce
- Mizuna
- Mushrooms
- Mustard Greens
- Nettles
- Onions
- Orach
- Parsnips
- Pea Shoots
- Peas
- Peppers, Sweet*
- Potatoes*
- Purslane
- Radishes
- Rutabagas
- Scallions
- Shallots*
- Spinach
- Sprouts
- Squash, Winter*
- Tatsoi
- Tomatoes*
- Turnips
Fruits | Nuts:
- Almonds*
- Apples*
- Asian Pears*
- Avocados
- Cherimoyas
- Cherries
- Dates*
- Grapefruit
- Guavas
- Kumquats
- Lemons
- Limes
- Mandarins
- Oranges
- Pears*
- Pecans*
- Pistachios*
- Pomelos
- Rhubarb
- Strawberries
- Walnuts*
*Can be found at the market, but not within its natural growing season.
Where to Buy
Most Farmers Markets aren’t open just yet unless they’re year-round—and there are plenty of markets that remain open throughout the year. Have a look at the Maryland Winter’s Farmers Market Guide from the Maryland Department of Agriculture. One of our favorite Baltimore markets is the year-round 32nd Street Farmers Market in Waverly!
Additionally, it’s not uncommon for grocery stores, particularly health food stores, to carry and label produce grown locally (typically, ‘local’ to a grocer includes a multi-state region—at least it does from our experience in Maryland). And remember, buying food while it’s in season can be a lot cheaper! You might also be surprised to find out that wholesale stores (e.g., BJs, Costco, or SAM’s Club, etc.) will shift their stock depending on the season! (Bulk kale? Kale yeah!)
CSAs
For the Seasonal, Local, Cheap series, we’re also partnering with (vegan) farmer Emma Jagoz from Moon Valley Farm in Baltimore County. She’s providing some great information about local food. There are a number of share types (so you can select one to suit your needs) as well as various pick-up locations (so you can find one that’s conveniently located). So, you can either pay online via PayPal, or pay by check along with this completed Member Agreement Form and mailing it to:
Moon Valley Farm, 1124 Greenway Road, Cockeysville, MD 21030
Pairing Tips
Eating seasonally can be quite rewarding, but once you allow yourself to perceive it as limiting you might find yourself hitting road blocks. You can complement seasonal foods with grains, pastas, breads, dried goods, canned goods, and jarred foods, or with frozen foods as well. We highly recommend saving money by purchasing these goods in bulk, or preserving and storing foods from earlier seasons yourself. Buying in bulk might be especially valuable this time of year, to avoid last minute trips to the grocer before impending snow storms. And of course season your food with dried spices and sauces you’ve either purchased or made throughout the year!
Suggested Recipes
We’ve perused a collection of vegan websites and recipe sites to select a handful of recipes you might want to try. Most or all of the ingredients are typically in-season this time of year, with the occasional out-of-season addition. We encourage you to play around with the recipes yourself, and if you think you can make it 100% local and 100% in-season, we would love to see what you cook up! Here are some ideas:
- Green Tea Lime Pie Smoothie Bowl | Oh She Glows
- Vegan Curried Carrot & Parsnip Soup | Mind Body Green
- Creamy Vegan Lemon Asparagus Pasta | The Minimalist Baker
- Kohlrabi Schnitzel | Elephantastic Vegan
- Vegan Cherry Pie | Savory Nothings
Resources:
- Seasonal Foods Guide
- Cookie + Kate January Produce Guide
- CUESA Seasonality Chart
- CUESA Seasonality Chart for Fruit
- Shari’s Berries Fruit Seasons Chart
- Calendar of Maryland Harvests
- Pick Your Own | Maryland Harvest Calendar
- Maryland Seasonal Fruits & Vegetables
- Maryland Fruit and Vegetable Seasonality Chart