Seasonal eating and farm-to-table recipes have changed the way many of us eat. Fresh, quality and in-season ingredients add an abundance of flavor and nutrients, as well as the chance to try new and interesting fruits and veggies.
Whether you’re growing your own summer bounty, curious about what’s in season at the grocery store or strolling your local farmer’s market on weekends, we’re celebrating the flavors of the season with a roundup of local produce and easy meal ideas to help you make the most of the delicious wonders growing all around us.
Eating in season
The natural rhythm of our world is a marvel and a lesson in the beauty of change. As the seasons shift, we have the chance to embrace and discover changing scenery, temperatures and food. And while there’s no difference in the number of nutrients provided by fruits and vegetables grown in summer vs. winter, the change in taste can be astonishing.
Farming practices have evolved to the point where we can get almost any type of produce at any time of the year. However, there’s something special about eating a sun-ripened peach or biting into crisp lettuce that was picked earlier in the day. In addition to enjoying delicious fruits and veggies, eating seasonally can be less expensive and helps support local farms — not to mention the nutritious boost they add to your summer meals.
Seasonal produce in August
Here in Ohio, we have an incredible selection of fresh produce to choose from.
While the variety of fruits and veggies is always changing, late summer fruits and vegetables grown throughout Ohio often include:
- Lima and snap beans
- Greens including collards, kale, lettuce, mustard greens, turnip greens and spinach
- Root vegetables such as carrots, radishes, leeks, onions and green onions
- Herbs like cilantro, dill and parsley
- Broccoli
- Apples
- Asparagus
- Cabbage
- Cantaloupe
- Collards
- Sweet corn
- Cucumbers
- Currants
- Eggplant
- Endive and escarole
- Gooseberries
- Grapes
- Okra
- Peaches
- Sweet peppers
- Potatoes
- Black raspberries
- Red raspberries
- Rhubarb
- Summer squash
- Winter squash
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
Healthy summer meal ideas
One of the best things about summer produce is that you don’t need to do much to make a delicious and nutritious meal. Standing over a hot stove in the middle of summer isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time, so it’s a great reason to make the most of your cutting board, blender and grill.
Fresh and easy serving suggestions include:
- Throwing together a salad of fresh lettuces dressed with an herby vinaigrette
- Grilling slabs of eggplant, asparagus, squash and corn to bring out their natural sweetness
- Tossing a handful of spinach into your morning smoothie
- Whipping up a Caprese salad with tomatoes, fresh basil and mozzarella
- Showcasing carrots, broccoli, snap peas and radishes with dill dip on a crudité platter
- Twirling slices of peaches or cantaloupe with prosciutto for a sweet and salty combo
- Adding berries to a fruit salad, baking them into a quick and easy cobbler, or topping a store-bought angel food cake with them
Each season and growing cycle has something to offer, whether it’s a favorite summer fruit or something new discovered at a roadside produce stand. With so many fresh fruits and vegetables available this summer, we hope you’ll make the most of them and find inspiration in every bite.
Thinking about giving your own garden a try this fall? We shared the basics of how to get started here.
