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Availability Guide

"WHAT'S AVAILABLE AND WHEN"

Canada's Guidelines for Healthy Eating recommends that we eat a variety of foods each day with an emphasis on fruits and vegetables. Use this Availability Guide to assist you in food purchasing and menu planning.

Canadians have access to a wide array of fresh produce year round thanks to improved growing, storage and distribution methods. Produce availability can vary from year to year, however, depending on growing conditions and transportation costs.

Today, retail produce departments carry at least 225 different fruits and vegetables. The Availability Guide lists approximately 150 of them but does not include the different varieties within each produce item. For example, apples are listed as one item but there are at least 15 different varieties available throughout the year.

For more in-depth information on locally grown produce, contact your Provincial Department of Agriculture.

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LEGEND

Shading Canadian availability
P Peak availability (more than 15% of crop available)
A
 Regular availability (more than 4 to 15% of crop available)
L
 Limited availability (1 to 4% of crop available)
Blank Space
 Less than 1% of crop availability

VEGETABLE AVAILABILITY GUIDE

VEGETABLES JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Artichoke A A P A A A A A A A A
Asparagus L A A A P P P L L L L L
Beans A A A A A A P P P A A A
Beets A A A A A A P P P P A A
Broccoli A A A A A A P P P P A A
Brussels Sprouts A A A P A L L A P P P P
Cabbage A A A P P P P P P P P A
Carrots A A A A A A A P P P P A
Cauliflower A A A A A A A P P P P A
Celery A A A A A A A P P P A A
Corn, Sweet L L L A P P P P P A L L
Chicory (Curly Endive) A A A A A A P P P A A A
Cucumber, Field A A A A A A P P P A A A
Cucumber, Greenhouse L A A A A A A A A A L L
Eggplant A A A A A A A P P A A A
Escarole A A A A A A P P P A A A
Fiddleheads A P P A
Garlic A A A A A A P P P A A A
Leeks A A A A A A P P P P P A
Lettuce, Head A A A A A A P P P A A A
Lettuce, Leaf A A A A A A P P P A A A
Mushrooms A A A A A A A A A A A A
Okra A A A A A A A A A A A A
Onions, Green A A A A A P P P P A A A
Onions, Cooking A A A A A A A A A A A A
Parsnips P P P A A A A A P P P P
Peas, Regular A A A A A P P A A A A A
Peas, Snow A A A A A P P P A A A A
Peppers A A A A A A A P P P A A
Potatoes, New P P P P
Potatoes, Storage P P P P L L L P P P P P
Pumpkin   A P P L
Radishes A A A A A P P P P P A A
Rutabaga P P P P P A A A A P P P
Spinach A A A A A P P P P A A A
Squash A A A A A A L A P P P P
Sweet Potato A A A A A A A A A A P A
Tomatoes, Field A A A A A A A P P A A A
Tomatoes, Greenhouse L L L A P P P A A A A L
Turnip L L A A A A A P P P P P
Zucchini A A A A A A P P P A A A


FRUIT AVAILABILITY GUIDE

FRUITS JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Apples P P P P A A A P P P P P
Apricots L A P P P L L L
Avocado A A A A A A A A A A A A
Banana A A A A A A A A A A A A
Blueberries L L L L A P P P P L L
Cantaloupe A A A A A A A P P A A A
Cherries         L P P L L L
Cranberries   L L L L A P P A
Grapefruit A A A A A A L L L A A A
Grapes A A A A A A A P P A A A
Kiwi A A A A A A A A A A A A
Lemons/ Limes A A A A A A A A A A A A
Mandarins P L L L A A L L A P P
Mango L L L A P P P A L L L L
Nectarine L A L A P P P A   L
Orange A A A A A A A A A L A A
Papaya A A A A A A A A A A A A
Peach L L     A P P P P L L
Pear A A A A A A A P P A A A
Pineapple A A A A A A A A A A A A
Plums L A     L L A P P A L  
Raspberries L A A A L A P P A A L A
Rhubarb Field 
and Greenhouse		 L A A A A P A A A A A
Strawberries L L A P P P P A A L L L
Watermelon L L L A A P P P A L L L

AVAILABILITY GUIDE FOR "SPECIALTY PRODUCE"

LEGEND

*

 Availability all year
(      )  Peak season
 
Specialty fruits and vegetables are often available to purchase on a regular basis or upon request. Because some of these items are not consumed in large quantities they may be difficult to obtain, even though they are listed in these charts as available. The dates listed are a guide only; much depends on Mother Nature and where you live in Canada.
SPECIALTY FRUIT *ALL YEAR (PEAK SEASON)
Asian Pear *
Atemoya (Aug to Nov )
Bananas, Baby and Red *
Blood Orange (Dec to Apr)
Cactus Pear (Prickly Pear) (Sep to May)
Carambola (Star fruit) * (Aug to Mar)
Cherimoya (Nov to May)
Coconut * (Sep to Apr)
Durian (Apr to Aug)
Feijoa (Mar to Jun; Sep to Jan)
Fig (Jun to Aug)
Guava (Jun to Aug ;
Nov to Mar)
Kiwano (Horned melon) * (Feb to Jun)
Kumquat (Nov to Mar)
Longan (July to Aug)
Loquat (July to Aug)
Lychee (Jun to July)
Mamey Sapote (Jun to Aug)
Mangosteen (Jun to Aug)
Passion Fruit * (Mar to- Sep)
Pepino * (Mar to Jun)
Persimmon (Oct to May)
Pomegranate (Sep to Dec)
Pummelo (Jan to Feb)
Quince (Aug  to Jan)
Rambutan (Feb to Oct)
Sapote (Jun to Aug)
Seville Orange (Jan to Mar)
Sugar Cane *
Tamarillo *(Mar to  Jan)
Ugli Fruit (Dec to  May)
SPECIALTY
LEAFY GREENS		 * ALL YEAR
(PEAK SEASON)
Arugula * 
Baby Mustard * (Dec to Apr)
Belgian Endive *(Nov to Mar)
Bok Choy, Regular & Baby *
Chinese Spinach *
Collards *(Dec to Apr)
Dandelion Greens * (Apr to May)
Herbs *
Kale * (Dec to Feb)
Mache *
Mustard Greens * (Dec to Apr)
Napa *
Radicchio *
Salad Savoy *
Sorrel * (Jun to Oct)
Swiss Chard * (Jun to Oct)
Watercress *
OTHER SPECIALTY VEGETABLES * ALL YEAR
(PEAK SEASON)
Bitter melon *
Boniato *
Breadfruit *
Broccoflower *
Cactus Pads  (Nopales) *
Calabaza *
Cardoon (Oct to May)
Cassava (Yuca) *
Celeriac (Celery root) * (Nov - Apr)
Chayote squash * 
Chili Peppers *
Chinese Broccoli (Dec to Apr)
Chinese Okra *
Daikon *
Eddo (Dasheen) *
Eggplant, Chinese & Japanese *
Fennel (Anise) * (Oct to Apr)
Fuzzy Melon/ Squash *
Ginger *
Green Mango *
Horseradish *
Jicama * (Dec to Apr)
Kohlrabi * (Jun to Sep)
Long Bean * (Aug to Oct )
Lotus Root (Mar to Nov)
Lemon Grass *
Malanga (Yautia) *
Opo Squash *
Plantain *
Rapini *
Salsify (Oct to Mar)
Shallots *
Sprouts *
Taro *
Tomatillo *
Water Chestnut *
Winter Melon *(Apr to Aug)