What is in Season For May? 3 Foods To Buy For Seasonal Eating
Eating seasonally means eating foods that are harvested in the season that you are in. There are many benefits to eating seasonally. Fruits and vegetables have much more of their nutritional value right after harvest and eating seasonally supports local farms.
Image descriptions: (From left to right ) First image is a a bunch of garlic scapes bunched together with rubber bands, second image is of small produce containers filled with fiddlehead ferns, third image is a close up of a bunch of asparagus.
Garlic Scapes
Garlic scapes are the long, green, curly, and tender stem and flower bud that grows from the garlic bulb. Garlic scapes are removed to encourage the plant to put all its energy into growing the bulb. Garlic scapes are delicious, versatile, and are a good source of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, and calcium. You can usually find garlic scapes at your local farmer’s market for less than 5 dollars a bunch. If you keep them in the fridge they will last for about 3-4 weeks.
Check out these 3 recipes that highlight garlic scapes:
Fiddlehead Ferns
Fiddlehead ferns are the whimsical and curled tips of fern plants. Some fiddlehead ferns are toxic, which is why it is important to purchase ostrich fern fiddleheads which are safe to eat after they have been cooked. Some people compare the taste to a blend of asparagus, peas, and broccoli. Fiddleheads are available for a short time in May, so head over to your local farmers market soon before they are gone!
These 3 simple recipes are great to start with if fiddlehead ferns are new to you:
Asparagus
Asparagus tend to be a bit pricey, but for good reason! It takes 3 whole years for an asparagus plant to mature before harvest. All that waiting is worth it, though, as asparagus is a nutritionally rich vegetable with good amounts of fiber, vitamin K, vitamin C, and folic acid. Another fun fact is that asparagus isn’t always green. There is white and purple asparagus!
Try out these recipes with traditional green asparagus or add a bit of color to your dishes by using a white or purple asparagus:
Helpful Resources:
Seasonal Food Guide
Find a Greenmarkets, Farm Stands, and Fresh Food Box in NYC
Local farms you can support in NYC