Updated on December 19, 2024 by Ruth
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Fresh fruit is bursting with flavor, juice, and nutritious, and is a delight for the senses. With fruit traveling all over the world and being available nearly all year in a supermarket, it is hard to know what is really in season, fresh, and full of flavor. Keep in mind that the season for fruit will vary in every area, even within growing zones. The season for strawberries in northern Delaware will vary from the season in Maryland, even though we may be in the same official zone. Check with your local farmer for the specifics in your area.
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What is in season now?
Here are the current approximate seasons for the fruit that grows on our farm here in zone 7a/b (they can’t quite decide what our growing zone is) in northern Delaware. Some of the extended seasons are due to specific varieties that we select, so this may not be true for another farmer in this growing zone.
In season in January-March: Apples from storage
In season in April: apples, honeyberries
In season in May: strawberries, raspberries
In season in June: blueberries, cherries, cranberries, currants, figs, gooseberries, peaches, plums, strawberries
In season in July: apples, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, currants, gooseberries, pawpaws, peaches, pears, plums, raspberries, watermelon
In season in August: apples, Asian pears, blackberries, cantaloupes, figs, honeydew, pawpaws, peaches, pears, plums, raspberries, watermelon
In season in September: apples, Asian pears, blackberries, cranberries, currants, figs, grapes, honeydew, pawpaws, peaches, pears, persimmons, plums, raspberries
In season in October: apples, Asian Pears, blackberries, cranberries, grapes, pears, persimmons, plums, raspberries
In season in November: apples, Asian Pears, cranberries, pears, persimmons, plums, raspberries
In season in December: apples, Asian Pears, cranberries, grapes, pears, persimmons.
Fresh fruit in winter
Winter, of course, is when we feel deprived, as we rely upon the fruit that is already harvested and is waiting for us in storage: pears and apples. We usually have Asian pears into January, those varieties that keep the best. We appreciate the apple varieties that keep in refrigeration and come to us still crispy, juicy, and flavorful. Fortunately for us, apples, Asian pears, and pears are great fruit that keep well for several months.
What do we grow in Delaware?
Here are the fruits that we grow to fill out the year: apples, Asian Pears, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupes, cherries—both sweet and tart, cranberries, currants, figs, gooseberries, honeyberries, grapes, honeydew, pawpaws, peaches, pears, persimmons, plums, raspberries, strawberries, watermelon. See anything that surprises you?
Season extensions
Since we love raspberries, we have found several different varieties and types so that we can have raspberries from late May through the summer, into the fall, and until we have a hard freeze. We have also found a blackberry variety that has fruit in July and then a second crop in the fall.
What is the first fruit in the spring?
We are always looking for ways to extend fruit season, and we have added honeyberries to the mix just so we can have something fresh and new in April before strawberries start. Honeyberries look like an elongated blueberry, love cool weather, and ripen before strawberries.
We are exploring another project to see if we can have fresh berries in March. That would be exciting, not to mention delicious! That can only happen because we have high tunnels which can provide protection from winter winds and cold temperatures. I will let you know what happens!
Using technology for a fruitful advantage
The high tunnels are one of the ways we use technology on the farm. The tunnels help protect the crops from extreme weather events, and they help us extend the seasons by starting earlier and ending later in the season. As a result, we are able to grow vegetables in all four seasons here in Delaware. We are now harvesting fruit in 8 out of 12 months of the year.
We ask ourselves, can we make fresh fruit available in 9 or 10 months of the year? We are working on it! If we combine the technologies of the high tunnel and the hydroponics system, can we have strawberries in March? Or earlier? We will find out.
Where can you find fresh fruit in season
Find your local farmer who is growing fruit. The flavor will be outstanding and the quality will be superb. Many farms that grow fruit offer a “pick-your-own” opportunity or offer a Fruit CSA. Some farms may also have a farm market where you can stop by and select from the offerings displayed. A farmers market with local farms usually has at least one or two farms with fruit.
A Fruit CSA means that you will get whatever is being harvested at that point, so you never miss a season. Some of the more unusual fruits might have a season of only 2-3 weeks.
Conclusion
As Delaware moves through its seasonal changes, the variety of fruits available reflects the state’s agricultural richness. From the early strawberries of spring to the crisp apples of fall, each season brings its own delightful flavors and textures. By embracing locally grown fruits in season, not only do we support our local farmers, but we also enjoy the freshest and most flavorful fruits nature has to offer. So, whether you’re picking your own at a local orchard or selecting them at a farmers’ market, savoring Delaware’s seasonal fruits is a true celebration of local harvests and the changing seasons.
If you are close to our farm near Wilmington, Delaware, we invite you to stop by or check out our Fruit CSA program. If not, please find a farm near you and support what they are growing. Thank you for your interest in sustainable agriculture.
Happy eating!
~ Ruth
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