Seasonal Grocery Savings: What to Buy and When in Canada
Have you ever wondered why some fruits and veggies cost less at certain times of the year? It’s because of seasons! In Canada, there are four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Each season brings different foods that grow best during that time. When we buy these foods in their right season, we can save money and eat yummy, fresh food!
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Why Buy Seasonal Foods?
- It’s cheaper: When there’s lots of a food, it costs less.
- It tastes better: Foods picked at the right time are super tasty!
- It’s good for the earth: Seasonal foods don’t have to travel as far to get to you.
Let’s look at what foods are best to buy in each season in Canada!
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Spring: March to May
Spring is when plants start to grow again after winter. Here are some yummy spring foods:
- Fruits: Rhubarb, strawberries
- Veggies: Asparagus, spinach, lettuce, peas, radishes, green onions, artichokes, fiddleheads, watercress, leeks, Swiss chard, mustard greens, turnip greens, dandelion greens.
Spring Money-Saving Tip
Look for deals on fresh herbs like basil and mint. You can grow these in small pots at home and have fresh herbs all year!
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Summer: June to August
Summer is warm and sunny. Lots of fruits and veggies grow in summer:
- Fruits: Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines, watermelon
- Veggies: Tomatoes, corn, zucchini, peppers, green beans, cucumbers, eggplant, beets, carrots, celery, garlic, onions, summer squash, okra.
Summer Money-Saving Tip
Buy extra berries when they’re cheap and freeze them. You can use them later for smoothies or baking!
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Fall: September to November
Fall is harvest time. Many foods are ready to pick:
- Fruits: Apples, pears, grapes, plums, cranberries, figs, quince
- Veggies: Pumpkins, winter squash (like butternut and acorn), broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, leeks, rutabagas, turnips, kohlrabi, celeriac
Fall Money-Saving Tip
Buy apples in big bags. They last a long time if you keep them in a cool place.
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Winter: December to February
Winter is cold in Canada. Not much grows, but some foods are still cheap:
- Fruits: Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes, tangerines, clementines, pomelos, persimmons
- Veggies: Potatoes, onions, cabbage, beets, carrots, turnips, parsnips, rutabagas, winter squash, Brussels sprouts, kale, collard greens, leeks.
Winter Money-Saving Tip
Look for sales on frozen veggies. They’re picked at the right time and frozen fast, so they’re almost as good as fresh!
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Now, let’s look at the following tables that will help you remember what to buy and when.
Table 1: Seasonal Fruits in Canada
Season Fruits Spring Rhubarb, strawberries Summer Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines, watermelon Fall Apples, pears, grapes, plums, cranberries, figs, quince Winter Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes, tangerines, clementines, pomelos, persimmons Table 2: Seasonal Vegetables in Canada
Season Vegetables Spring Asparagus, spinach, lettuce, peas, radishes, green onions, artichokes, fiddleheads, watercress, leeks, Swiss chard, mustard greens, turnip greens, dandelion greens Summer Tomatoes, corn, zucchini, peppers, green beans, cucumbers, eggplant, beets, carrots, celery, garlic, onions, summer squash, okra Fall Pumpkins, winter squash, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, leeks, rutabagas, turnips, kohlrabi, celeriac Winter Potatoes, onions, cabbage, beets, carrots, turnips, parsnips, rutabagas, winter squash, Brussels sprouts, kale, collard greens, leeks Table 3: Money-Saving Tips for Each Season
Season Money-Saving Tips Spring 1. Grow herbs at home 2. Buy extra asparagus and freeze it 3. Look for sales on seeds to start a small garden 4. Try less popular spring greens like dandelion or mustard greens 5. Check farmers’ markets for deals on early produce Summer 1. Freeze extra berries 2. Can or pickle summer vegetables 3. Look for “pick your own” farms for cheaper fruits 4. Buy corn in bulk when it’s cheapest and freeze it 5. Make and freeze pesto with cheap fresh basil Fall 1. Buy apples in big bags 2. Stock up on pumpkins after Halloween for cheap pumpkin puree 3. Buy extra root vegetables and store in a cool, dark place 4. Look for deals on cranberries and freeze for later 5. Make and freeze soups with cheap fall vegetables Winter 1. Look for sales on frozen vegetables 2. Buy citrus fruits in bulk and make preserves or marmalade 3. Check for deals on winter squash and store for months 4. Use more cheap cabbage in meals 5. Start indoor herb gardens for fresh herbs all winter
