What's in Season in California
What's in season in California, month by month
Typical seasonal windows for the California region. These are sourced from Cooperative Extension harvest calendars — they're a regional guide, not a guarantee that a given crop is ready in your town on a given date. "From storage" marks crops kept from an earlier harvest rather than picked fresh that month.
| Month | Typically in season |
|---|---|
| January | Navel oranges, lemons, kumquats, tangerines, grapefruit, avocados, strawberries, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, celery, carrots, beets, lettuce, snow and snap peas |
| February | Navel oranges, lemons, tangerines, tangelos, avocados, strawberries, asparagus, artichokes, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, celery, peas, beets, rhubarb |
| March | Navel oranges, lemons, grapefruit, tangelos, strawberries, asparagus, artichokes, peas, carrots, squash, rhubarb, avocados |
| April | Navel and Valencia oranges, grapefruit, lemons, strawberries, avocados, asparagus, snap peas, beans, carrots, beets, turnips, radishes, squash |
| May | Valencia oranges, grapefruit, lemons, strawberries, avocados, sweet corn, peas, beans, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, sweet onions, potatoes, carrots |
| June | Peaches, plums, apricots, raspberries, boysenberries, blackberries, Valencia oranges, avocados, tomatoes, corn, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, potatoes, sweet onions |
| July | Melons, grapes, figs, Asian pears, pears, raspberries, apples, sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, beans, potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, persimmons |
| August | Peaches, plums, apricots, blackberries, boysenberries, raspberries, apples, figs, melons, sweet corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, squash, carrots |
| September | Grapes, peaches, plums, apples, figs, melons, sweet corn, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, beans, carrots, peppers, onions, potatoes |
| October | Grapes, apples, Asian pears, pears, figs, peaches, melons, sweet corn, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, beans, carrots, peppers, onions |
| November | Apples, pears, Asian pears, persimmons, kiwis, pumpkins, melons, oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, beans, peppers, lettuce |
| December | Tangerines, oranges, grapefruit, lemons, kiwis, apples, avocados, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, beets, lettuce |
Regional-typical windows from California Cooperative Extension calendars (sources below). For your exact local timing, check with your market.
One state, more than one season
How to use this calendar at the market
The single most reliable seasonality guide in California is the farmer who grew the thing, standing behind their table. Walk the whole market once before buying — what's piled high and priced well is almost always what's in season right now. Ask vendors what's just come in and what's nearly done, and when something hits its peak and the price drops, that's the moment to buy extra for freezing or canning. For the bigger picture, see our national what's-in-season produce calendar.
Frequently asked questions
What produce is in season in California right now?
It depends on the month, but California follows the California region's typical pattern. Use the month-by-month table above for your month, then confirm at your local farmers market — the farmers know what's actually peaking that week.
When is peak season at California farmers markets?
Summer is the peak — that's when tomatoes, sweet corn, peppers, melons, and berries come in across the California region. Spring brings the first greens and strawberries; fall shifts to apples, squash, and root crops.
Why might these dates be off for my town in California?
These are typical regional windows, not a town-by-town guarantee. Your elevation, that year's weather, and whether a farmer uses greenhouses or high tunnels can shift any crop by a few weeks. Treat the calendar as a starting point.
Where can I buy what's in season in California?
At a local farmers market or farm stand. California has 603 farmers markets listed here from the USDA Local Food Portal — browse them by city to find one near you and see what's on the tables.
→ Farmers markets in California · CSA farms in California · National produce calendar
Sources
- UC ANR — Harvest Calendar
- CDFA — California Agricultural Statistics
- USDA SNAP-Ed — Seasonal Produce Guide
- USDA AMS — Local & Regional Food Directories
These are typical regional harvest windows from Cooperative Extension and USDA sources, not a town-by-town guarantee. Timing varies by microclimate, elevation, weather, and growing method — confirm local timing with the farmers at your market.