One of the easiest ways to stay inspired throughout the year is to cook seasonally. My time in culinary school taught me the importance of using fresh, seasonal ingredients whenever possible. The springtime month of May is known for fresh flowers, warmer temperatures, and regeneration. You’ll start to notice many more fruits become available as spring is in full swing. Keep reading to find out what is in season in May!
The weather in May is warmer, and rain can be plentiful to support the growth of springtime crops. With the last frosts of winter coming to an end in most places in the United States, making May one of the most ideal gardening months! Plants that have been started indoors are ready to be put in the soil full-time. It’s truly a time of abundance at local markets, too!
Use this jump-to menu to quickly navigate to sections of this blog post, and check out the other monthly seasonal produce guides here.
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infographic of what’s in season in May
Here’s a handy infographic to showcase some of the freshest seasonal produce available in May. Save this image for all your grocery trips this month, or pin it for later!
complete list of fruits & veggies in season in May
Here are two comprehensive lists of fruits and veggies that are in season during the month of May!
Fruits that are in season in May:
- Apricots
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Boysenberries
- Cantaloupe
- Cherries
- Dragon Fruit
- Guava
- Kumquats
- Lychee
- Mangoes
- Melons
- Nectarines
- Papaya
- Passion Fruit
- Peaches
- Plums
- Raspberries
- Pineapple
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
Vegetables that are in season in May:
- Artichokes
- Asparagus
- Avocados
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Chard
- Chives
- Green Beans
- Green Onions
- Kale
- Leeks
- Mustard Greens
- Radishes
- Rhubarb
- Spinach
- Summer Squash
- Swiss Chard
- Tomatillos
- Zucchini
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May Seasonal Produce Spotlight & Recipes
Here’s a focused list of what produce is in season in May and some links to recipes for inspiration! Want more inspiration? Let me know in the comments below, and I’ll help you out!
Guavas are small, pear-shaped fruit that ranges from pale yellow to bright pink in the middle, depending on the variety.
While guava is still seen as a tropical luxury, the flavor is well-loved by most who taste it. It has the flavor of a cross between a pear and a strawberry. Here in Central Florida, we see guava as a staple ingredient in pastries thanks to Cuban and Puerto-Rican influence. Even our every-day grocery stores carry guava pastries!
Mango is one of the most popular tropical fruits, and comes in numerous varieties.
Known as the world’s most popular fruit, mango is fresh and in season in the month of May! They are believed to have originated in Southern Asia, and they are most popularly grown in India. There are over 500 varieties of mango available, but popular varieties in your local grocery stores are Alphonso, Kent, Tommy Atkins, and Kesar. Mangoes can be used in a variety of ways, one of my favorites is in smoothies, like this Starfruit Smoothie that uses frozen mango and strawberries!
Pineapples are known for being tropical fruits, and they’re starting to be at the peak of ripeness in the springtime month of May!
While you can usually find pineapple year-round, check your local grocery store sales flyers for sales on pineapple starting in the spring through the late summer, specifically in March through June. Contrary to popular belief, this fruit is NOT native to Hawaii, but it was imported from the Amazon and cultivated until it gained wild popularity. Enjoy pineapple in recipes like this Pineapple Soda, which uses a homemade Pineapple Simple Syrup!
Kiwi fruits are small, brown, fuzzy ovals on the outside, but inside, they are a vibrant green color and have tons of tiny black seeds.
Most kiwis in the United States are grown in California, but New Zealand is the world’s leading producer. In fact, the kiwi got its name from the kiwi bird in New Zealand, because the shape and color resemble the bird. Kiwi and strawberry are a classic flavor combination, but it is delicious on its own! Enjoy it is in a simple syrup, like this Kiwi Simple Syrup, or in a cocktail, like with this Kiwi Mojito.
Swiss chard is also known as rainbow chard, or even more simply called “chard.” It’s related to Spinach, and it cooks up quite similarly, too.
You can use the entire vegetable in cooking, so don’t be afraid to sautée both the stems and the leaves! Just be sure to cook them separately, as the stems will take a bit longer to cook since they are more fibrous. Chard is super versatile, and is delicious sautéed, roasted, or even cooked atop a pizza! The flavor is a little more earthy than spinach, with a slight sweetness as well.
💬 Let me know in the comments what May produce you’re looking forward to!
It’s always exciting to see more seasonal fruits in the markets– I think that’s a real signal of springtime being in full swing! Are there any other May ingredients you’d like to know more about? Let me know in the comments below, and I’ll add on to this post!
