Guide to Buying Locally Grown, Seasonally Fresh Produce

Do you live in Southern California, and want to know what's on nature's menu for early May?

Here are two great sources, ready to tell you about this month's "specials":

The National Resource Defense Council has a page specifically devoted to helping you eat locally-grown, fresh produce. All you have to do is type in your State and the half-month you are interested in. For early May in Southern California, the NDRC suggests:

• Apricots
• Artichokes
• Asian Pears
• Asparagus
• Avocado
• Basil
• Beets
• Black-eyed Peas
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Chard
• Cherries
• Collards
• Corn
• Cucumber
• Dates (Medjool)
• Eggplant
• Figs
• Grapefruit
• Green Beans
• Green Onion
• Green Peas
• Kale
• Kohlrabi
• Kumquats
• Lemons
• Lettuce
• Mushroom
• Mustard
• Navel Orange
• Nectarines
• Okra
• Onions
• Passion Fruit
• Peaches
• Plums
• Potatoes
• Raspberries
• Spinach
• Strawberries
• Summer squash
• Tomatoes
• Turnips
• Valencia Oranges

L.A. Weekly's blog Squid Ink features a "What's In Season at Farmers' Markets" column, that gives great insight into particular featured varieties of your favorite local fruits & veggies. Right now there are so many treats available: ramps, morels, spinach, lettuce, stinging nettles, strawberries, English peas, celery, artichokes, fava beans, cherimoyas, onions, lemons... and lilacs and lavender, too! Stay up on the report by visiting the Farmers' Market Report here.