What's in Season in December?
Reliably in season across most of the country
Winter citrus at peak (clementines, navel oranges, grapefruit, tangerines), cabbage, kale, hardy roots, and sweet potatoes; nearly everything else northern comes from storage.
December 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 December in each region, from the same Cooperative Extension calendars behind our state guides.
| Region | Typically in season in December |
|---|---|
| Northeast | Storage crops: winter squash, potatoes, onions, carrots, beets; Brussels sprouts, leeks, kale; greenhouse greens |
| Midwest & Upper Midwest | Storage crops: winter squash, potatoes, onions, carrots, cabbage, apples (from storage) |
| Southeast | Collards, kale, mustard and turnip greens, lettuce, carrots, cabbage, broccoli; sweet potatoes (from storage) |
| Gulf & Deep South | Winter citrus (grapefruit, oranges), greens, cabbage, broccoli, carrots, celery, beets — the winter hub hits its stride |
| Mountain West | Storage crops: winter squash, potatoes, onions, beets, carrots (from storage) |
| Pacific Northwest | Overwintered crops: leeks, kale, mushrooms, hazelnuts, garlic; storage apples, pears, squash, onions, potatoes |
| California | Tangerines, oranges, grapefruit, lemons, kiwis, apples, avocados, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, beets, lettuce |
| Southwest Desert | Lettuce, leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, celery, carrots, citrus (oranges, grapefruit) — winter desert hub ramps up |
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
- Gulf & Deep South: Florida's prime winter window: strawberries START around December, with tomatoes, sweet corn, snap beans, and citrus all running.
- Southwest Desert: The desert is at peak lettuce and greens production; Texas runs citrus and greens.
- California: Southern California's citrus and winter-vegetable engine carries fresh production through the holidays. Northern fresh field harvest: zero.
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 in season in December?
Winter citrus at full peak — clementines, navel oranges, grapefruit, tangerines — plus cabbage, kale, hardy roots, and sweet potatoes. In Florida, the strawberry season is just beginning; in the North, storage crops carry the market.
Are December strawberries really in season?
In Florida, yes — the winter strawberry season opens around December and runs into April, centered on Plant City. Everywhere else in the country, fresh local strawberries in December aren't a thing.
What should I buy at a northern market in December?
Storage crops and hardy greens: potatoes, onions, winter squash, cabbage, carrots, beets, and apples from storage — plus whatever greenhouse or high-tunnel greens your growers extend the season with.
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← November · In season now · Your state's calendar · January →
Sources
- USDA SNAP-Ed — Seasonal Produce Guide
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension — Texas Home Vegetable Gardening Guide
- Go Texan — Texas Produce Availability Chart
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension — Planting & Harvesting Calendar (Yuma / Maricopa County)
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension — Arizona's Seasonal Role in National Supply
- UC ANR — Harvest Calendar
- CDFA — California Agricultural Statistics
- 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.