I know I sound like a broken record when I say I love summer but I really do love summer and all the things that come with it! One of those things being, I really, really love summer produce! In college I worked across from a cute little produce stand and started stopping in there for my fruits and veggies in the spring before I headed home for the day. It totally reminded me how much better produce was when it was in season and locally grown. So every summer I try to scoop up the local produce where ever and when ever I can find it. Usually the hand written “peaches $6 a basket” signs on the side of the road can get you some really dang good peaches!
So I got to thinking, I definitely don’t know when the best seasons for some of my favorite produce are, and I also don’t know the best places to buy them! So I thought I’d round up a few great places to shop for produce as well as what’s currently in season. Whether you’re in Knoxville or East Tennessee or not, I’m sure there are plenty of similar places for you to shop your local produce too!
Produce That’s Currently in Season:
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
- Cantaloupe
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Cherries
- Bell Peppers
- Okra
- Corn
- Green Beans
- Limes
- Peaches
- Zucchini & Summer Squash
Where to Find The Best Local Produce:
- Farmer’s Market: The best variety and the easiest place will be your local farmers market. Look up dates, times and locations of your local farmers markets and you can totally rack up there! You can do a lot, if not all, of your produce shopping at the farmers market once a week. The dates and times aren’t as flexible, so if you’re busy like me, you really have to carve out time to go, but it’s totally worth it when you do!
- Local Produce Stands: These are also a great place to pick up locally grown produce. The variety will be less than what’s available at a Farmer’s Market but the quality will still be there! This is a great way to stop in and pick up your favorites on your way home!
- Nurseries: A lot of plant nurseries also will do local produce as well. We shot these photos at Pope’s garden center in Knoxville and they had peaches and tomatoes available. Not all will have produce but if there’s one close to your house or work, you could totally stop in and see what they’ve got! The one by Jared’s house has a strawberry lady that comes on the weekends and usually sells out pretty quick. So talk to the employees and get the scoop on when the best time to shop is!
- CSA Boxes: If you’re busy and don’t have time to scour your town for the best produce and stay on top of it weekly, there’s another awesome resource for you. CSA boxes. If you haven’t heard of them they’re like a subscription box for local produce! You sign up and the farm you’ve subscribed to sends you whatever they have fresh and in season that week. Each farm is different but you can sign up for different size boxes, different seasons, different pricing options and so on. They have weekly pickups and drop offs, you’ll just need to find the box that works best for you. Here’s a list of the Knoxville ones, and if you’re not local I’m sure they have these where you are too! Just head to the ole google for some help finding them.
Not only is local produce so much tastier than the store bought stuff, but when you buy local produce it’s supporting your local small businesses. It’s supporting your town’s economy, supporting your local agriculture and supporting your local farms and farmers! #shoplocal whenever you can!
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