Supporting local farmers means looking for in-season produce year-round. Find out what's in season in spring, summer, fall, and winter in Michigan.
Michigan is an agricultural powerhouse, offering year-round fresh produce from independent small farms across the state. Households looking to source local fruits and vegetables in Traverse City, Northern Michigan, and across the region enjoy a shifting supply of in-season produce, which makes it an excellent time to try new foods and prepare inspired dishes with the region’s seasonal offerings.
Michigan’s growers make the most of spring, summer, fall, and winter. Michigan is the second-most agriculturally diverse state, growing over 300 commodities and ranking 7th nationally for fruit and vegetable production.
That means there’s almost always a fruit or vegetable available; here’s a breakdown by season.
From March through May, Michigan offers a host of hardy crops suited to the cooler season. Most of Michigan’s spring offerings focus on fresh vegetables and herbs, including:
By May, most of the state will also have a healthy crop of rhubarb. It’s worth noting that southern Michigan crops are usually available earlier in the season, sometimes by as much as three weeks, depending on the weather and location.
Summer expands Michigan’s fresh produce offerings to include a wide variety of vegetables and marquee fruits. Early summer (think June) sees prime rhubarb and strawberry harvests, though that’s just the start of the season’s bounty. Michigan is a renowned grower of:
Fall harvests are always rich in Michigan, with cool-weather crops typically brought in from the fields and orchards by late October. Depending on the weather, apples, grapes, and plums are usually ready by September, but a wide variety can be harvested well into October.
Michigan’s top fall fruits and vegetables include:
Many Michigan farmers operate indoor growing facilities and greenhouses to produce small, high-value crops year-round. While it’s difficult to find local fruits and vegetables in stores from November through February, you can sometimes find hardy crops from greenhouses at farm stands and winter farmers' markets.
Most of Michigan’s winter offerings are hoop-house-grown greens, such as:
You’ll also find mushrooms, carrots, onions, and storage crops like butternut and acorn squash.
There are several useful resources to quickly find in-season fruits and vegetables in Traverse City and across the region.
You can find local produce at the Sara Hardy Farmers Market and other nearby markets, as well as many local grocery stores like Oryana Community Co-op.
Max’s Service is proud to support local farmers and small businesses. We know our community needs access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and these growers add value and brilliance to the area. You can support local, too, when you shop for your next home appliance at Traverse City’s family-owned appliance store. Stop by our Downtown TC showroom or call (231) 947-6830 to start your search!
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