A Seasonal Guide to Shopping Produce in Essex County

Shopping produce gets easier and more enjoyable when you have a sense of the season.

In Essex County, that season moves quickly. What feels abundant in early spring gives way to a very different market by late summer, and the shift is part of what makes shopping this region so rewarding. A seasonal approach does not mean you need to memorize a harvest chart. It simply means paying attention to what is at its best right now.

Spring often brings the first signs of freshness after a long winter. Think greens, herbs, asparagus and the early start of lighter cooking. It is the time of year when people start reaching for produce that feels bright, crisp and full of life again.

As summer builds, the market changes with it. Strawberries arrive, then tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, beans, peaches and sweet corn. This is the stretch where produce can shape the whole meal. Dinner gets simpler because ingredients are doing more of the work on their own.

Late summer and early fall tend to be the most generous seasons. Tomatoes deepen, corn peaks, apples return, and the market starts to shift toward squash, root vegetables and the foods people want as evenings cool down. It is also when many people begin thinking more about preserving, baking and cooking for gatherings.

By late fall, the produce mix becomes heartier and more practical. Potatoes, onions, carrots, squash, apples and other cooler-weather staples take on a bigger role. The table changes, but the season still has its own appeal.

One of the easiest ways to shop well is to let the season do some of the decision-making. Produce that is in season often tastes better, fits the moment more naturally and makes planning meals less complicated.

That is a big part of how we think about fresh produce at Lee & Maria’s. Shop what looks good. Shop what is in season. Let the market tell you what time of year it is.