It is all well and good to encourage home gardens, CSA's and farmer's markets, but doesn't everyone deserve access to nutritious food? What of those among us who live in isolated areas or don't feel they can afford produce at all? Shouldn't we have access to healthy foods? Absolutely. Intelligently understood, the modern global distribution system provides a wide variety of produce year-round. Although certainly not sustainable over the long-term, understanding the seasons and economics of corporate agriculture can still help get more from your food dollar by shopping "supermarket seasonal."
Why Seasons Matter
For someone born into the suburbs who has known only supermarkets, it is often a revelation to understand that different foods grow best at certain times of the year. One may see strawberries in January, but the quality is low and price high for good reasons. To a large extent, global and corporate agriculture can "ride" the seasons all across the globe, providing two major seasons for asparagus and grapes each year, but foods that don't need to be stored for long periods in nitrogen atmospheres or trucked several thousands miles tend to be better in quality and less expensive.
The prevalence of certain crops at certain times of year is reflected in quantity, quality and cost, so below is a month-by-month list of what foods are least expensive each month at the generic, north american supermarket.
Least Expensive Supermarket Foods by Month
Always Inexpensive
Because they are relatively inexpensive to grow and store, some produce is almost always inexpensive. Bananas are a good example, because of the climate and political situation where they are grown. Similarly for fast-growing crops from California and root vegetables, which are simple to store. Among the foods that are almost always affordable in conventional supermarkets are: bananas, carrots, celery and potatoes.
Late winter Foods
Late winter crops, tropical fruits and citrus tend to be less expensive in January, with fewer fruits increasing access to cheaper distribution. In January look for good supermarket prices on broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, grapefruit, leeks, lemons, oranges, papayas, tangelos and tangerines.
As even winter crops are exhausted, February provides slimmer pickings: : broccoli, cauliflower, grapefruit, lemons, oranges, papayas, tangelos. To a certain extent, this has begun to reverse by March, as early spring greens come on. In March look for good prices on broccoli, early lettuce, mangoes and pineapples.
Spring Foods
As spring returns in full force to the northern hemisphere, there is an odd mix of late fall crops from South America and traditional spring foods such as asparagus and early peas. In April look for inexpensive artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, lettuce, mangoes, pineapples, rhubarb, spring peas, zucchini.
May brings the first early fruits from Mexico and California to national chains: apricots, artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, cherries, lettuce, okra, pineapples, rhubarb, spring peas, zucchini.
June continues the expansion to include early apricots, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, corn, lettuce, peaches, strawberries and watermelon from the agricultural south. Clark County farms are just now coming on with significant production of early peas, strawberries and early greens such as lettuce.
Summer Foods
Summer is what most folks think of as "the eating season" and when local farmers markets kick into full gear. The sorts of things one finds at local farmers markets are being produced all across the country and, although the price and quality are often better locally, widely available nationwide. Inexpensive supermarket produce in July often comes from California, and appears before the better, local goods. In July look for supermarket specials on apricots, blueberries, cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, green beans, kiwi, lettuce, peaches, plums, raspberries, strawberries, summer squash, tomatoes, watermelon. By August pretty much everything is on at full production: apricots, blueberries, cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, kiwi, lettuce, peaches, plums, raspberries, strawberries, summer squash, tomatoes, watermelon.
Autumn Foods
Autumn is the time when fruits and larger vegetables of substance come into their own nationally: apples, broccoli, cranberries, eggplants, grapes, grapes, lettuce. October sees persimmons, pomegranates, pumpkins, spinach, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, winter squash. November brings more of the same, with seasonals such as brussel sprouts in addition to standards: broccoli, cranberries, mushrooms, oranges, pears, persimmons, pomegranates, pumpkins, spinach, sweet potatoes, tangerines, winter squash. By December, the last of the fall crops and the first flush of winter foods are coming in, along with early citrus: broccoli, cauliflower, grape fruit, mushrooms, oranges, papayas, pears, pomegranates, sweet potatoes, tangelos, tangerines.
Meats & More
With time, you may notice that other foods also follow certain patterns. There is usually a significant sale on turkey each November, with hams on sale near Easter. Canned vegetables from the previous year are often dumped into the market before the next batch ramps up, in a sort of annual "clearance sale" to open warehouse space. As computerization improves inventory management, this is less common than it has been in the past, but goods such as condiments and soda pop are frequently put on sale near Independence Day. Keeping a "price book" over the year can help you see these patterns more easily, and use them to intelligently stock your pantry.
Eating with the Earth
Corporate food distribution systems are not ideal, but understanding them and accepting where we are is important, and even the most isolated supermarket in North Dakota or New Jersey has its seaons and cycles. Understanding those and riding them throughout the year is a terrific way to eat better and for less money, wherever you may be.
Working the Weekly Ads
For various historical reasons, most supermarkets advertise their sales in the Tuesday newspaper or food supplement, to begin on Wednesdays. This timing emerged from past logistics around printing and transport, but continues today. Most supermarket ads appearing in the Tuesday or Sunday newspaper, and are often delivered even to non-subscribers as a "free" weekly supplement for maximum publicity. Watching these ads over a period of years shows clear patterns and seasons that anyone can use for better nutrition, pleasure and taste.
