What's In Season?

Acorn Squash

Season: Picked in the autumn and stored until spring.

Choosing: The tastiest will be solid and heavy, with stems that are full, firm and have a corky feel.

Storing: Store in a cool, dark (about 50° F) place for about a month.

The Perfect Recipe: This Acorn Squash with Pomegranate and Kale Tabbouleh makes a stunning dish that tastes just as good as it looks. With the perfect balance of winter flavors, this recipe brings out the best in this seasonal vegetable.

Keep Reading: Winter Squash Recipes

Blood Oranges

Season: December to March

Choosing: Pick blood oranges that are firm to the touch and heavy for their size.

Storing: To keep these ruby gems fresh longer, choose refrigeration over the fruit bowl—they'll only last a couple of days at room temperature but will will stay fresh up to two weeks in the fridge.

The Perfect Recipe: Sweet, tangy, and creamy, these Blood Orange and White Chocolate Cream Cups make the perfect two-bite finale to any winter meal. You'll love how easy the clean up is too!

Keep Reading: Guide to Blood Oranges + Citrus Recipes

Sweet Potatoes

Season: Though available year-round, the freshest crop comes in the fall.

Storing: To keep these sweet spuds fresh up to 3 to 6 months, store them in a cool space around 50°. An unheated garage, basement, dark cabinet or pantry is ideal.

Health Benefits: Packed with vitamins A and C, sweet potatoes are more nutritious when cooked in their skins.

The Perfect Recipe: Full of tangy-sweet glaze, Glazed Sweet Potatoes with Maple Gastrique is holiday-table worthy but also simple enough for a weeknight side.

Keep Reading: Guide to Sweet Potatoes + Our Best Sweet Potato Recipes

Butternut Squash

Season: Picked at its peak in autumn, this popular winter squash stores well and can be enjoyed through spring.

Choosing: Look for a squash that is without cracks or soft spots, is heavy for its size, and is deeply colored with a matte finish.

Storing: To maintain the freshest squash for about a month, store in a cool dark place or paper bag.

Health Benefits: This squash is packed with vitamins A and C. The darker the squash, the more beta-carotene.

The Perfect Recipe: Warm-Spiced Butternut Squash Soup is easy to make and comforting to eat. The earthy spices in this fragrant dish make wonderful accents for the natural sweetness of butternut squash.

Keep Reading: Guide to Butternut Squash + Top-Rated Butternut Squash Recipes + How to Peel and Cut Butternut Squash

Pears

Choosing: Test for ripeness by applying light thumb pressure near the pear's stem. If it's ripe, there will be a slight give.

Storing: If pears aren't quite ripe, store in a brown paper bag on the counter; it may take 3 to 5 days for them to fully ripen. Once ripe, store in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.

Health Benefits: Just one medium pear packs in 6g of fiber as well as vitamins A and C, plus potassium. Their natural sweetness makes them a great choice for desserts, so you can cut back on the amount of added sugars.

The Perfect Recipe: Sweet fruit and tender quick bread unite to create a stunning treat that will have guests coming back for more. The best part: this gorgeous Poached Pear Bread is remarkably easy to make!

Keep Reading: Pear Types + Pear Recipes

Kale

Season: Fall through spring

Choosing: Look for bunches that are dark green and free of yellow or brown blemishes.

Storing: Place cut kale in a plastic produce bag in your refrigerator for up to a week.

Health Benefits: Kale contains beta-carotene and the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin–which are associated with eye health–as well as potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber, iron, and calcium. Plus, you get 2 grams of protein in a serving.

The Perfect Recipe: Quick, easy, and brimming with nutrients and flavor, we suggest you add this Orecchiette with Kale, Bacon, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes recipe to your weekly meal plan, and put it on repeat this season.

Keep Reading: Guide to Kale + Kale Recipes + Kale Salads + Kale Soups

Brussels Sprouts

Season: Although readily available almost year-round, the peak season is from September to mid-February.

Choosing: Look for sprouts that are 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter—the smaller the head, the sweeter the taste. They should be compact, firm, and green, with minimal nicks and torn or yellowing leaves.

Storing: Store in a produce bag in the coldest part of your refrigerator. Though they will last a couple of weeks, cook within 4 to 5 days for the best taste.

Health Benefits: This nutrient powerhouse is full of phytonutrients (natural plant compounds), which may help protect against cancer, plus vitamins A and C, potassium, folate, iron, and fiber.

The Perfect Pairing*: Everyone will want to eat their Brussels Sprouts when they're skewered and grilled kabob-style and served with a side of bold, flavorful Marzetti® Sriracha Ranch Veggie Dip.

Keep Reading: Guide to Brussels Sprouts + Our Best Brussels Sprouts Recipes

*Content From Marzetti

Rosemary

Season: Summer and fall; year-round in temperate climates

Choosing: Look for fresh stems with no sign of curled, brown, or molded leaves. The leaves should be firmly attached to the stem, not shedding.

Storing: Cut the woody stems with kitchen shears or garden clippers, ideally while holding them underwater in the sink or a bowl. To maximize their life, place them in a produce bag in the refrigerator (but not in the vegetable bin). They'll last up to two weeks.

See More: How to Store Herbs

The Perfect Recipe: There's nothing quite as satisfying and warming as sitting down at the table with a basket of homemade biscuits in front of you. Nana's Rosemary Biscuits with Cranberries unite sweet and savory flavor in one delectable bite.

Keep Reading: Guide to Rosemary + Rosemary Recipes

Clementines

Season: October to February

Health Benefits: An average clementine packs up to half of the Recommended Dietary Allowance for vitamin C and is also a good source of fiber.

The Perfect Recipe: Fennel's licorice-y sweetness is a great match for the intensely citrusy yet supremely sweet clementines and salty feta in this staff-favorite, Fennel and Clementine Salad with Chicken, Almonds, and Feta.

Keep Reading: Guide to Clementines + Citrus Recipes

Fennel

Season: Peak season is fall and winter. However, home gardeners can also slip in a quick planting in spring for an early summer harvest.

Choosing: Look for compact bulbs that are relatively heavy and firm. Avoid those that are splitting or browning or have other injuries.

Storing: Remove the foliage by snipping an inch or two above the bulb. Place fennel in a produce bag to prevent moisture loss, and store it in the vegetable bin of your refrigerator for three or four days.

The Perfect Recipe: Braised Fennel with Parmesan Breadcrumbs: This licorice-flavored member of the parsley family gets a quick sear in a little butter to caramelize the wedges and mellow out the strong flavor. Breadcrumbs spiked with nutty Parm-Reg top off this fast, super-simple side. Pair with pork chops or roasted chicken thighs.

Keep Reading: Guide to Fennel + Fennel Recipes

Pomegranate

Season: September to January

Choosing: Look for ones that are heavy, bright in color and free of blemishes.

Storing: Refrigerate whole pomegranates up to three months or freeze seeds in an airtight container up to three months.

Health Benefits: Packed with cancer-fighting antioxidants, specifically polyphenols, pomegranates are also an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium, and calcium.

The Perfect Recipe: Impress any guest with our five-star Beef Filets with Pomegranate-Pinot Sauce that come together in a 20-minute snap.

Keep Reading: Pomegranate Power + Best Pomegranate Recipes

Beets

Season: Beets prefer the cool weather of spring and fall—June to November

Choosing: Look for small to medium-firm beets with smooth skin. If you plan to cook the beet greens, they should be crisp and a vibrant dark green color.

Storing: Store beets, greens and all, in a produce bag in the coldest part of your refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Or, trim greens and refrigerate roots in a plastic bag up to 3 weeks.

Health Benefits: A great source of folate, these golden- and purple-hued beauties are also packed with betaine.

The Perfect Recipe: This composed, two-toned Roasted Red and Golden Beet Salad is a showstopping way to highlight the vegetable's natural beauty.

Keep Reading: Guide to Beets + Beautiful Beet Recipes

Oranges

Season: December through March

Choosing: To select, choose firm oranges that have smooth skins and are not moldy.

Storing: Store citrus in a produce bag in the vegetable bin of your refrigerator for up to a week.

The Perfect Recipe: Marmalade provides pectin to give the glaze syrupy body and balances the sweet orange juice with a touch of pleasant bitterness in this top-rated Orange-Mustard Glazed Pork Chops recipe.

Keep Reading: Guide to Citrus + Citrus Recipes

Cranberries

Season: September through October; peak market period running through December

Choosing: Cranberries are usually packaged in 12-ounce plastic bags, so you won't get to choose them individually. Check the see-through to make sure you get brightly and intensely colored berries.

Storing: Tightly wrapped in a plastic bag, cranberries will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. For increased longevity, toss the bag in the freezer, where they'll stay fresh for a year.

Health Benefits: Loaded with antioxidants, flavonoids, vitamins A and C, one cup of whole, raw cranberries contains only 47 calories, while providing you with 4g of fiber.

The Perfect Recipe: Cranberries truly are a calling card of the season and no holiday feast is complete without a much needed bite of bright, refreshing acidity like this fresh, homemade version of Roasted Cranberries and Grapes with Rosemary.

Keep Reading: Guide to Cranberries + Cranberry Sauce and Relish Recipes

Grapefruit

Season: Winter through early spring

Storing: For best quality, place citrus in a produce bag in the vegetable bin of your refrigerator for up to a week.

Health Benefits: Naturally packed with water and fiber, this bright fruit packs in a hearty dose of vitamin C as well.

The Perfect Recipe: With its sweet-tart zing, pink grapefruit shines in this Fennel and Radicchio Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette filled with bold, fresh flavors and beautiful colors.

Keep Reading: Guide to Citrus + Grapefruit Recipes

Lemons

Season: Late fall through winter

Choosing: Look for smooth, brightly colored skin (green means under-ripe), and lemons that feel heavy for their size.

Storing: Store on the countertop for up to 10 days or in the refrigerator for up to four weeks

Health Benefits: They are a good source of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. They also contain vitamin B6, calcium, riboflavin, iron, and magnesium.

The Perfect Recipe: It doesn't get much easier or more satisfying: a complete dinner in one pan in half an hour like our Weeknight Lemon Chicken Skillet Dinner. Lemon brightens this cozy winter meal.

Keep Reading: 10 Things to Know About Lemons + Citrus Recipes

Parsnips

Season: November to March

Choosing: Look for small to medium firm, well-shaped roots with creamy-beige skin. Avoid limp, shriveled, or spotted roots, or any with tops that are beginning to sprout.

Storing: Wrap in paper towels, and refrigerate in a plastic bag for up to 2 weeks.

The Perfect Pairing*: For an in-season and oh-so-delicious snack, try warm roasted parsnip "fries" with cool and creamy Marzetti® French Onion Veggie Dip.

Keep Reading: Guide to Parsnips + Our Best Vegetables and Fruits for Cold Weather

*Content From Marzetti

Mushrooms

Season: While most mushrooms are available year-round, many are at their peak in fall and winter.

Choosing: In general, look for firm, evenly colored mushrooms. Avoid mushrooms that are broken, damaged, or have soft spots, as well as those that seem damp or smell of mildew.

Storing: Don't wrap them in plastic; they'll stay firmer placed in a single layer on a tray, and covered with a damp paper towel. Fresh mushrooms can be stored, unwashed, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Health Benefits: Mushrooms contain two important B vitamins—niacin and riboflavin. The shiitake mushroom is particularly healthy, as it contains lentinan, which may help fight cancer and bolster the immune system.

The Perfect Recipe*: Entertaining season is upon us, and these savory handheld Mushroom Turnovers are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Filled with mushrooms, shallots, Swiss cheese and Marzetti® Ranch Veggie Dip, it's a go-to appetizer from Thanksgiving through New Year's.

Keep Reading: Guide to Mushrooms + 12 Delicious Exotic Mushrooms

*Content From Marzetti

Potatoes

Season: Mature potatoes make their appearance in late summer and fall.

Choosing: Look for firm potatoes that are not green or sprouting.

Storing: Place potatoes in paper or burlap bags to increase the humidity while allowing air to circulate. Store them in the coolest, darkest place in your home, such as a pantry or cabinet or in an unheated garage or basement. They'll last three to five weeks.

The Perfect Recipe*: Warm up your family with this hearty Creamy Ranch Potato Soup made of Yukon Gold spuds, carrots, chicken stock, and Marzetti® Ranch Veggie Dip.

Keep Reading: Guide to Potatoes + Our Best Potatoes Recipes + Hash Recipes

*Content From Marzetti

Spaghetti Squash

Season: Autumn through spring

Choosing: The skin of the squash should be deeply colored with a matte finish. Avoid squash with cracks, soft spots, or moldy areas.

Health Benefits: This winter veg delivers tons of nutrients, and it makes your pasta dishes much lower in calories and carbs.

The Perfect Recipe: Not only does Spaghetti Squash Lasagna with Spinach transform this comfort meal into a delightful dinner for less than 400 calories, but it also packs in fiber and nearly 2 cups of vegetables in each hearty serving.

Keep Reading: How to Cook Spaghetti Squash + Spaghetti Squash Recipes