Local foods

Seasonality reference:

Following is an alphabetical list of products grown or produced locally in the Bay Area. Please note that these are generalizations based on past experience. Climatic variations in any given year may render them inaccurate.

almonds: harvested in autumn, usually Sept or Oct; available year-round.
anchovies: harvested and available in fall
apples: harvested late summer through autumn; available from cold storage until spring
apricots: harvested and available late spring through midsummer
artichokes: spring and early fall are the classic seasons, but you will often find them in winter as well.
arugula: harvested and available year-round
asian pears: harvested from Jul through Nov; available from cold storage through the winter
asparagus: harvested and available in spring, from Feb through May
avocados: harvested and available locally from May through Sep (often available year-round from Southern Cal)
beans (dried): harvested in fall and available year-round
bee pollen: available year-round
beef: harvested and available year-round
beets: harvested and available year-round
bitter melon: harvested and available in late summer
black beans: harvested in autumn (usually Oct); available year-round (dried)
blackberries: harvested and available during the summer, sometimes as early as May and as late as Nov
black-eyed peas: harvested in late summer and early autumn; available dry year-round
blueberries: harvested and available from late May until Jul
bok choy: harvested and available year-round
boysenberries: harvested and available late spring through midsummer
broccoli: harvested and available year-round
broccoli raab: harvested and available from autumn through spring
brussel sprouts: harvested and available from late autumn through the winter
burdock root: harvested and available in fall
butter: available year-round; fresh pastured butter plentiful in spring
cabbage: best from autumn through winter; can be found harvested and available year-round
cantaloupes: harvested and available late summer and into autumn
cape gooseberries: harvested and sometimes available late summer through early autumn
cardoons: harvested and available during winter and spring
carrots: harvested and available year-round
cauliflower: harvested and available year-round
celeriac: harvested and available in autumn and winter
celery: harvested and most available in autumn and winter
chard: harvested and available year-round
cheese: available year-round
cherries: harvested and available in late spring and early summer (May-Jun)
chestnuts: harvested and available in autumn
chicken: harvested and available year-round
chicories: harvested and available autumn through winter and into spring
chiles: harvested and available fresh in summer (Jun-Oct); available dried and smoked year-round
citron: harvested and available in autumn, and occasionally at other times throughout the year
clams: harvested and available year-round
clementines: harvested and available in winter
collard greens: harvested and available year-round
corn: harvested and available in summer and into autumn (Jun-Oct/Nov)
crab (Dungeness): harvested and available in winter, season opens Nov 15
cream: available year-round
cucumber: harvested and available in summer (Jun-Oct)
currants: harvested and sometimes available in mid- to late-summer
dandelion greens: harvested and available year-round
edamame: harvested and available in fall
eggplant: harvested and available from midsummer through early autumn (Jul-Oct/Nov)
eggs: harvested and available year-round; more abundant in spring
elderberries: harvested and available in early to mid summer
escarole: harvested and available in winter
fava beans: harvested and available fresh in spring (Mar-May)
fennel: harvested and available year-round
figs: harvested and available in summer and into autumn (Jun-Sept)
garbanzo beans: harvested and available fresh in summer; dried year-round
garlic: harvested in summer and autumn; often cured and sold for longer
garlic scapes: harvested and available in late spring
goat: available year-round on rare occasions or by special arrangement
goose: harvested and available for the holidays or by special arrangement year-round
grapefruit: harvested and most available winter through spring, can be year-round
grapes: harvested and available midsummer through autumn
green beans: harvested and available summer into autumn (Jun-Nov)
green garlic: harvested and available winter into spring (Dec-May)
guinea fowl: harvested and available year-round
halibut: harvested and available in summer, occasionally year-round
honey: harvested and available year-round
horseradish: harvested and available year-round
jujubes: harvested and available in autumn (Oct)
kale: harvested and available year-round, best in late autumn and winter
kiwi: harvested in Nov & Dec; available from storage until Feb
kohlrabi: harvested and available late fall through spring
kumquats: harvested and available in winter and spring (Feb-May)
lamb: harvested and available year-round
lavender: harvested in Jun; available dried year-round
leeks: harvested and available year-round, though sometimes scarce in summer.
lemongrass: harvested and available in summer and fall; sometimes available through spring
lemons: harvested and available in winter and spring (Nov-Jun); can be found year-round
lettuce: harvested and available year-round, except rare times in winter when it freezes
limes: harvested and available late summer into autumn (Aug-Oct)
loquats: harvested and available late winter through spring
mandarins: harvested and available late autumn through spring; best in winter
melons: harvested and available mid-summer into autumn (Jul-Oct)
milk: harvested and available year-round
mint: harvested and available year-round
morels: harvested and available in spring
mulberries: harvested and sometimes available midsummer
mushrooms: harvested and available year-round; wild mushrooms especially in autumn
mustard greens: harvested and available year-round
nectarines: harvested and available in summer (Jun-Aug)
nettles: harvested and available year-round; especially abundant in Apr/May
nopal cactus: harvested and available in late spring and summer (Apr-Aug)
okra: harvested and available late summer into autumn (Aug-Oct)
olive oil: harvested in Nov; available year-round
olives: harvested and available fresh in autumn; available cured year-round
onions: harvested in spring through summer and into autumn; available cured in winter
oranges: harvested and available almost year-round
Navels are available winter and spring (Nov-Apr) and best in late winter
Valencias are available spring into autumn (Feb-Sept) and best in late spring
oregano: harvested and available year-round
oysters: harvested and available year-round
parsley: harvested and available year-round
parsnips: harvested and available late autumn through winter
pawpaws: harvested and available in Aug
peaches: harvested and available in summer (Jun-Aug/Sep)
pears: harvested and available late summer and autumn (Aug-Oct)
pea greens: harvested and available in late winter and early spring
peas: harvested and available in spring, and sometimes in summer and autumn
pecans: harvested in Nov or Dec; available year-round
peppers (sweet): harvested and available midsummer through autumn
persimmons: harvested and available in autumn (Oct-Nov)
pistachios: available year-round
plums and pluots: harvested and available in summer and into autumn (Jun-Sep)
pomegranates: harvested and available in autumn (Oct-Nov)
pummelos: harvested and available from autumn into early spring (Nov-Mar)
pork: harvested and available year-round
potatoes: harvested and available year-round
pumpkins: harvested in autumn; available through winter
quail: harvested and available year-round
quinces: harvested and available in autumn (Oct)
radishes: small radishes are best and most available in spring; large radishes (black Spanish; watermelon; daikon) are harvested and available in autumn and winter
raspberries: harvested and available from late spring into autumn
rhubarb: harvested and available in spring (Apr-May) and into summer
rosemary: harvested and available year-round
rutabaga: harvested and available in autumn and winter
sage: harvested and available year-round
salmon: harvested and available fresh May-Sept or Oct; available smoked year-round
salsify: harvested and available in autumn and winter
sanddabs: harvested and available year-round
sardines: harvested and available year-round
sea vegetables: harvested Mar-Sept; available dried year-round
shallots: harvested and available in summer and early autumn
shelling beans: harvested and available mid-summer through autumn
snap peas/snow peas: harvested and available in spring (Mar-May); sometimes in autumn
sorrel: harvested and available year-round
spinach: harvested and available year-round
sprouts: harvested and available year-round
squash, winter: harvested in autumn and available through late winter
squid: harvested and available year-round; from near Monterey Bay esp. Apr-Aug
strawberries: harvested and available spring, summer and autumn
summer squash: harvested and available late spring into autumn
sunchokes: harvested and available autumn through winter
sunflower and seeds: harvested and available in late summer and autumn
sweet potatoes: harvested in autumn; available through winter from cold storage
tangerines: harvested and available early autumn through late spring; best in winter
thyme: harvested and available year-round
tomatillos: harvested and available in late summer
tomatoes: harvested and available summer into autumn (best in Jul & Aug)
turkey: harvested and available at the holidays
turnips: harvested and available in autumn through winter and into spring
walnuts: harvested in autumn and available year-round
watercress: harvested and available year-round
watermelon: harvested and available summer into autumn (Jul-Oct)
wheat: harvested in spring or autumn and available year-round
winter squash: harvested in autumn and available through winter
yogurt: available year-round