Welcome to our first edition of “Healthful Harvest”! Each month, we’ll use this space to share timely information about our local bounty of in-season fruits and vegetables, as well as helpful resources focused on eating healthily, heartily, and sustainably.
This month, we’re diving into June produce. Plus, find out where you can pick your own berries. They don’t get any fresher than that! Plus, you’ll save money, and you can have a blast picking away with family or friends!
Why Buy Local & In-Season
When you buy local and in-season, you’ll enjoy fresher fruits and veggies because they haven’t travelled long distances to get to you. Without having to accommodate for that travel, farmers can pick their crops at peak ripeness, giving you a fresher, more delicious product.
And there are many more benefits. Buying local supports farmers in our communities, bolsters the local economy and helps preserve local farmland. Shorter travel from the farm to your table also means lower transportation costs and a smaller impact on our environment. And that’s good for your wallet and the planet. So, by buying local, you’re not only getting the freshest, tastiest produce, but you’re also supporting a healthier, more sustainable, and vibrant community.
June’s Harvest
The following fruits and vegetables are in season in Pennsylvania from late May through the end of June. Just keep in mind that the exact timing can vary from year to year due to weather conditions.
Fruits:
- Blueberries (late June)
- Cherries (Sweet) (mid to late June)
- Strawberries (late May to early June)
Vegetables:
- Arugula
- Asparagus
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Collard Greens
- Cucumbers
- Eggplant
- Fava Beans
- Green Onions (Spring Onions/Scallions)
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Lettuce (Romaine, Redleaf, Greenleaf)
- Mushrooms
- Mustard Greens
- Onions
- Peas (Sugar Snap and Snow, English)
- Peppers
- Radishes
- Shallots
- Spinach
- Squash (Summer)
- Swiss Chard
- Turnips
- Watercress
Pick Your Own Berries
Berry picking isn’t just about the berries—it’s also an opportunity to appreciate the journey from farm to plate. As you pluck each sun-warmed berry, you are experiencing your food in its most natural state – before it’s packaged and put on a truck, before it travels miles down the highway, and before it’s received, processed, and set out for sale at the grocery store. No, this is food that was harvested by your own hands, going directly to your kitchen. How sweet is that?!
To find a “pick your own” farm near you, visit https://www.pickyourown.org/PA.htm for locations, dates & times, and more.
Whether you choose to pick your berries in solitary delight or enjoy the activity with friends or family, get out there and get yourself the freshest berries you’ll ever have!