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May seasonal fruits and vegetables bridge the gap between spring and summer in delicious fashion. This May produce guide will have your taste buds tip-toeing toward summer by way of seasonal recipes starring strawberries, artichokes, peas, and more.
In the midwest, May Saturdays mean one thing: Farmers market time! With hundreds of bakers, makers, foragers, farmers, and more selling their wares (not to mention breakfast tacos and warm pastries galore), there’s no better place to be on a crisp spring morning. While the coffee and cinnamon rolls are a lovely pick-me-up, the best part of the farmers market’s launch is undeniably the overflowing tables of seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Wondering what’s in season in May so you can shop smartly? Consider this seasonal produce guide below like having me as your market buddy, guiding you through the essential May fruits and vegetables that are worthy of a spot in your reusable shopping bag.
Seasonal produce is fresh and affordable, so both your budget and your taste buds will be happy if you stock up accordingly. No matter if you’re strolling the aisles at the supermarket or if you’re feasting on food directly from a farmer, consider adding these fresh fruits and vegetables to your shopping list.
In case you could use some inspiration for how to put what’s in season in May to delicious use, I’m also sharing ideas for seasonal recipes to include in your next round of meal prep or as part of your menu for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or potlucks and picnics. ‘Tis the season!
Still have leftover produce from last month? See what’s in season in April.
Looking ahead to next month? Discover what’s in a season in June.
Table of Contents
What’s in Season in May?
- Early-season berries and stone fruits: Prime berry time isn’t for another month or two, but you can score a sneak peek of some fruits in this family, including strawberries, cherries, apricots, and plums, come May. Get your fix in pies, cobblers and crisps, as part of shortcakes, or washed and out of hand. They’re sweet like candy right now.
- Tropical fruits: I know, there isn’t exactly any growing season for kiwi and mango in the midwest, but they travel beautifully from warmer regions (where they grow prolifically and are at their peak right now). Try them with Fruit Dip, in parfaits, fruit salsas, Memorial Day fruit salads, and smoothies.
- Buckwheat, root and thistle vegetables: Don’t sleep on often-overlooked yet versatile May vegetables like artichokes, rhubarb (yes, it’s a veggie, even though we often use it like a fruit!), and radishes. Not only would that not be comfy, but you’d be missing out on stellar starters, snacks, desserts, and more. Artichokes are excellent steamed, fried, stuffed, or roasted, while rhubarb is remarkable in pies, jams, muffins, or even savory sheet pan dinners. Radishes need nothing else besides a dunk into softened butter and a sprinkle of salt, although you could also pair them with your favorite dip or slice and sprinkle them into salads.
- Daisy, legume, and onion family vegetables: Get this: asparagus is actually a perennial flower, as a member of the daisy family. April showers brought them, and the stalks are exceptional in tarts, scrambles, soups, and pasta recipes. Spring peas are technically considered legumes. While you certainly could whip them up into “hummus” like you use chickpeas, I’m wild sweet on peas in pasta tosses and salads. Sweet onions, and if you’re lucky enough to find them, ramps, are totally dreamy grilled, roasted, or sautéed into sauces, soups, egg breakfasts, and potato sides.
The Best Fruits and Vegetables to Eat in May
| Fruits | Vegetables |
| Apricots | Artichokes |
| Cherries | Asparagus |
| Kiwis | Fava Beans |
| Plums | Radishes |
| Mangos | Ramps |
| Pineapples | Rhubarb |
| Strawberries | Spring Peas |
| Sweet Onions |
Early-Season Berries and Stone Fruit Recipes
Kick your feet up, berry frosé season has arrived! It’s the ideal month to dive into a wide variety of festive and fresh cherry and strawberry recipes.
Fruit Dessert Recipes
Strawberry Jello Poke Cake
Fruit Dessert Recipes
Cherry Cobbler
Cocktail Recipes
Strawberry Peach Frosé
Fruit Dessert Recipes
Cherry Clafoutis
Fruit Dessert Recipes
Strawberry Shortcake
Cocktail Recipes
Strawberry Margarita
Pie and Tart Recipes
Cherry Pie Filling
Breakfast Recipes
Strawberry Citrus and Ginger Smoothie
Tropical Fruit Recipes
Pretend like you’re already on summer vacation with these island-flavored seasonal fruit salads, salsas, smoothies, and party-starting desserts.
Breakfast Recipes
Mango Carrot Smoothie
Salad Recipes
Rainbow Thai Salad with Mango
30 Minute Meals
Hawaiian Fried Rice
Breakfast Recipes
Pineapple Spinach Smoothie
Breakfast Recipes
Tropical Mango Smoothie
Mexican Recipes
Pineapple Salsa
Cocktail Recipes
White Sangria
Buckwheat, Root, and Thistle Vegetable Recipes
These are the artichoke, radish, and rhubarb recipes you’ll want to have on repeat as part of your May menu.
Appetizer Recipes
Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms
Appetizer Recipes
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Vegetable Recipes
Stuffed Artichokes
Italian Recipes
Easy Flatbread Pizza
Daisy, Legume, and Onion Family Vegetable Recipes
Infuse layers of flavor into any savory recipe with sweet onions and ramps, then load on the color with quick-cooking and vibrant asparagus and peas.
Appetizer Recipes
French Onion Dip
Soup and Stew Recipes
Cream of Asparagus Soup
Salad Recipes
Farro Salad with Peas and Feta
Soup and Stew Recipes
French Onion Soup
Salad Recipes
Asparagus Salad
Appetizer Recipes
Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus
30 Minute Meals
Pasta with Peas and Prosciutto
Side Dish Recipes
Brown Fried Rice
Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.
