It's winter here in the northern hemisphere, which means a lot of my favorite fruits are in limited supply. That is, unless I buy them canned. Yet something about winter fruit makes me wish it would also last forever. I can never get enough pomegranate. Fresh fruit is always better though, both in taste and in nutrients. Buying seasonal fruit is also more helpful on the wallet. Have you ever tried to buy a peach in the spring? The prices and flavors of peaches are much better in the fall.

Winter fruits include a lot of citrus. Tangerines, clementines, oranges, blood oranges, grapefruit, etc. I already mentioned pomegranates, didn't I? Cranberries are pretty well known. Early winter is also prime time for red grapes and kiwi. Pears and plums are other great winter fruits. Lesser used fruits to look for during this time are dates, passion fruit, persimmons, and red currants. Many of these fruits go great in some yogurt, and if you're treating yourself, throw in a little dark chocolate. Fresh cranberries are fun to use in holiday punch as an aesthetic. Roll your citrus fruits on the countertop before peeling for an extra-juicy treat. Vegetables best found this season include kale, Brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, and collard greens.

Spring fruit (March to May) include apricots, honeydew, limes, mango, pineapple, and strawberries. Early spring is still a good time to buy oranges. Lesser known spring fruits are bitter melon, Barbados cherries, lychee, and jackfruit. Apricots are my personal favorite, they may be small, but they pack a lot of good nutrients! Dried apricots will remain within the same price range throughout most of the year. Springtime vegetables are plentiful, including green beans, peas, broccoli, all sorts of asparagus, corn, and spinach.

Summer covers a lot of fresh fruit. Things you find in the summer are often also found in the spring and fall fruits including apricots and apples, honeydew and plums, and strawberries. A lot of berries come in around summer. Raspberries, loganberries, blueberries, cherries, and elderberries. Tomatoes are ripe in the summer, as are watermelon, nectarines, and certain apples. Champagne grapes are one of my favorite summer fruity treats. Summer is also a great time for veggies like zucchini, okra, snap peas, bell peppers, eggplant, beets, cucumbers, and corn.

Fall harvest (September to November) brings in the the cranberries again, more grapes, the start of pomegranate, pears, and pineapple. Apples get really good around this time, too. The favorite fall fruit is pumpkin! Yes, pumpkin is a fruit. It belongs in the berry family (go figure). Mostly, though, fall brings veggies. Mushrooms, all sorts of squash, artichokes, radishes, long beans, and cauliflower.

Luckily we live in a world where many things are available year round. Avocados, bananas, bok choy, cabbage, carrots, celery, lemons, lettuce, coconut, olives, onions, and potatoes are all things that won't break the bank if you have a hankering for it summer or winter. On top of which, many of the seasonal fruits listed above can cross over and be harvested for two seasons.

Fruits are a great snack substitute when you have a sweet tooth. Eat them fresh, or dried. Next time you make a trip to the store for fresh produce, keep in mind some of the things that are in season, it'll help your wallet and your palate. Enjoy a healthy, and fresh year this year.