What's in Season in August?
Reliably in season across most of the country
Tomatoes, sweet corn, peppers, eggplant, okra, melons, peaches, plums, nectarines, grapes, figs, and blackberries — peak-of-peak abundance.
August region by region
The U.S. runs on more than one harvest clock — the Gulf South peaks in winter, the desert Southwest is a November-to-April operation, and California barely pauses. Here is August in each region, from the same Cooperative Extension calendars behind our state guides.
| Region | Typically in season in August |
|---|---|
| Northeast | Tomatoes, sweet corn, peaches, melons, peppers, eggplant, summer squash, beans, blueberries, plums, early apples |
| Midwest & Upper Midwest | Sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, melons, peaches, apples, garlic, cucumbers, summer squash, green beans |
| Southeast | Tomatoes, okra, sweet corn, field peas, watermelon, cantaloupe, peaches, pears, figs, grapes, peanuts, squash, eggplant |
| Gulf & Deep South | Peaches, watermelon, cucumbers, okra, southern peas, green onions, pears; early fall planting underway |
| Mountain West | Peaches, pears, apricots, sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, melons, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, green beans |
| Pacific Northwest | Blackberries, marionberries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, pears, apples, beans, cucumbers, eggplant, sweet corn, squash, grapes, basil |
| California | Peaches, plums, apricots, blackberries, boysenberries, raspberries, apples, figs, melons, sweet corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, squash, carrots |
| Southwest Desert | Melons, table grapes, okra, peppers, summer squash; pomegranates beginning; cool-season planting starts |
Typical regional windows, not town-by-town guarantees — elevation, weather, and growing method shift any crop by weeks. Confirm locally at your market.
Regional highlights this month
- Pacific Northwest: Washington's fresh apple harvest begins in August — the state grows over half the national crop, with heavy volume running August through November.
- Mountain West: Utah's Wasatch Front floods with peaches, melons, and sweet corn.
- Northeast: Northern melon windows are short and sweet — Pennsylvania's runs roughly August to the third week of September. Florida remains shut down for temperate vegetables.
Find it fresh near you
The month tells you what to look for; your local market tells you what's actually on the tables this week. Find a farmers market by ZIP code, browse farm stands and u-pick farms to buy at the source, or pull up your state's calendar below for the local version of this month.
Frequently asked questions
What's at peak in August?
Almost everything warm-season: tomatoes, sweet corn, peppers, eggplant, okra, melons, peaches, plums, nectarines, grapes, figs, and blackberries. August is the single most abundant month at most U.S. farmers markets.
When does apple season actually start?
Earlier than most lists say — early varieties like Ginger Gold and Zestar arrive in August, and Washington (over half the national crop) begins its commercial harvest in August with heavy volume through November.
How long does melon season last up north?
It's short. Pennsylvania's melon window, for example, runs roughly August to the third week of September — a six-week season. When local melons appear at a northern market, buy them; they won't linger.
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← July · In season now · Your state's calendar · September →
Peaking in August — single-produce guides: Tomatoes · Sweet Corn · Watermelon · Peaches · Cantaloupe · Cucumbers · Summer Squash · Green Beans · Ground Cherry · Purslane
Sources
- USDA SNAP-Ed — Seasonal Produce Guide
- WSU Extension — Whatcom Seasonal Harvest Guide
- OSU Extension — Monthly Garden Calendars
- Colorado State Extension — PlantTalk: When to Harvest Vegetables
- Utah State University Extension — Local Fruit & Vegetable Availability (Wasatch Front)
- Penn State Extension — Harvest Calendar
- Cornell Cooperative Extension — Vegetable Program Crops
- University of Delaware Cooperative Extension — Planning a Vegetable Garden
- USDA AMS — Local & Regional Food Directories
These are typical regional harvest windows from Cooperative Extension and USDA sources, not a town-by-town guarantee. Where sources conflict, we side with the state-level Extension calendar. Storage crops are labeled as such — winter "in season" in the North usually means well-stored, not freshly picked.