What's in Season in January?
Reliably in season across most of the country
Winter citrus (navel oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, clementines, lemons), beets, carrots, parsnips, turnips, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, leeks, and sweet potatoes; apples and pears are widely available from storage.
January 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 January in each region, from the same Cooperative Extension calendars behind our state guides.
| Region | Typically in season in January |
|---|---|
| Northeast | Storage crops: potatoes, onions, winter squash, cabbage, carrots, beets, apples (from storage) |
| Midwest & Upper Midwest | Storage crops: potatoes, winter squash, onions, cabbage, carrots, beets, apples (from storage) |
| Southeast | Cool-season harvest: collards, kale, mustard and turnip greens, spinach, lettuce, carrots, radishes, cabbage, broccoli |
| Gulf & Deep South | Winter citrus (grapefruit, navel and Valencia oranges); beets, broccoli, celery, cabbage, carrots, continuous winter greens |
| Mountain West | Storage crops: winter squash, potatoes, onions, beets, cabbage, carrots, turnips (from storage) |
| Pacific Northwest | Overwintered crops: leeks, kale, mushrooms, potatoes, hazelnuts; storage apples, pears, squash, onions |
| California | Navel oranges, lemons, kumquats, tangerines, grapefruit, avocados, strawberries, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, celery, carrots, beets, lettuce, snow and snap peas |
| Southwest Desert | Peak winter desert harvest: lettuce, spinach, leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, celery, carrots, citrus (oranges, grapefruit, lemons) |
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 is in active field harvest: strawberries, tomatoes, sweet corn, snap beans, bell peppers, lettuce, celery, and citrus.
- Southwest Desert: The Arizona low desert is the nation's winter lettuce basket — head and leaf lettuce, spinach, brassicas, celery, and carrots run November through April.
- California: California harvests citrus, avocados, coastal strawberries, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, and lettuce right through winter.
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 fruit is in season in January?
Winter citrus is the January headliner: navel oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, clementines, and lemons are at peak abundance. In Florida, fresh strawberries are already being picked; northern apples and pears are sold from cold storage.
Are any vegetables actually harvested in January?
Yes — across the South. Florida harvests tomatoes, sweet corn, and snap beans; the Arizona low desert and California harvest lettuce, spinach, and brassicas all winter. Northern-market roots and squash come from storage.
Is winter produce at northern farmers markets really local?
Usually yes — as storage crops. Potatoes, onions, winter squash, cabbage, carrots, and apples are harvested in fall and stored properly for winter sale. It's local and in season, just not freshly picked — honest vendors will tell you which.
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← December · In season now · Your state's calendar · February →
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.