Seasonal Eating: Why We Love It & Your Guide to What’s in Season This Summer

Chef secret: using seasonal ingredients not only makes your meals taste better, it’s better for you, too!

At Easyfeast, we’re big fans of seasonal eating, and there is no better time to embrace it than summer, when the markets are full with juicy tomatoes, fragrant herbs, melt-in-your mouth melons, and sweet peaches. But seasonal eating is more than a trend – it’s a nourishing, grounded and sustainable way to eat.

What is Seasonal Eating?

Seasonal eating means choosing fruits, vegetables and herbs that are naturally in season in your region. It’s about planning meals around what’s currently growing nearby – what your local farmers are harvesting right now.

Why Seasonal Eating is Worthwhile

Eating with the seasons connects you to nature, boosts your nutrition and helps the planet – all while saving money and tasting great.

-       Increased freshness and flavor: seasonal produce is harvested at peak ripeness, so it’s more flavorful and vibrant. It hasn’t spent days in transit or been picked early to ripen in a truck.

-       More nutritious: When fruits and veggies are harvested in their natural cycle, they receive optimal sunlight, water, and soil nutrients – resulting in higher levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Plus, food grown in-season requires fewer artificial inputs like pesticides and preservatives. Eating seasonally is also a simple way to add more diversity to your diet throughout the year, giving you a broader range of nutrients.

-       Saves money: Seasonal food is more abundant and doesn’t incur extra shipping or storage costs, so it’s often more affordable.

-       Better for the planet: Choosing local, seasonal produce helps reduce carbon emissions from transportation and packaging waste. Buying seasonal produce often means buying local – which keeps your dollars in your community and helps sustain small farms. 

-       Family friendly: Many summer fruits – like watermelon, peaches and berries – are naturally sweet and kid-approved, making seasonal eating an easy win for the whole family.

What’s in Season: July & August in the Northeast

Here’s what’s ripe and ready in the Northeast during the heart of summer. These fruits, vegetables and herbs are perfect for simple summer salads, grill-ready sides, and flavorful family dinners.

Vegetables:

• Cauliflower

• Celery

• Cucumber

• Broccoli Raab

• Eggplant

• Green Beans

• Garlic

• Leeks

• Onions

• Peas

• Peppers

• Summer Squash

• Tomatoes

• Turnips

• Winter Squash

• Zucchini

Fruits:

• Apples

• Blueberries

• Cantaloupe

• Cherries

• Melons

• Nectarines

• Peaches

• Pears

• Plums

• Raspberries

• Watermelons

Herbs:

• Basil

Keep an eye out for these seasonal delights at your local farmers market or grocery store – or let Easyfeast take care of it for you!

Let’s Eat with the Seasons – Together

At Easyfeast, we build menus that highlight what’s fresh, local and in season. That means better-tasting, more nutritious meals for your family – no need to plan, shop or prep.

Whether you’re looking to boost nutrition, simplify dinner, or just serve something your kids will actually eat – seasonal eating makes it easy (and delicious) to nourish your family.

Let’s make summer taste as good as it feels! Book a trial.  

 
Sources:
GrowNYC
Seasonal Food Guide
American Heart Association
The Spruce Eats – Northeast Seasonal Produce
Healthline