This month there are is abundance of fresh produce in season. No matter where you live you can find some of your favorite fruits and vegetables in the produce department.
February is the peek of Florida strawberry season and the prices on fresh Plant City strawberries are low.
Buy them while you can. Enjoy some now and freeze the rest for later in the year.
February Florida Produce in Season Now
The month of February is a great month when it comes to fresh Florida produce.
The cool Florida winter months are when many fresh fruits and vegetables that are grown in Florida are at their peak.
Cook your favorite recipes and freeze or dehydrate the rest to preserve them for later.
- Bell Peppers: Fresh bell peppers add so much flavor to so many recipes. Like this easy Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas recipe. Or this Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup.
- Broccoli: Broccoli is one of our favorite fresh from Florida produce. You can enjoy a big bowl of Broccoli Cheddar Soup. If you love Panera Bread broccoli soup then check out this copycat recipe for Crock Pot Broccoli Cheddar soup.
- Cabbage: Fresh cabbage is a perfect winter vegetable that can be cooked or eaten raw like this Red Cabbage Asian Slaw recipe.
Carambola recipes
Carambola & Strawberry Jam is a favorite around here.
If you love the tropical flavor of starfruit you can make a batch of this Carambola Strawberry Jam.
Or try sipping on a tall glass of Starfruit Iced Tea.
Or made a dried star fruit snack.
Cauliflower: If you find a good deal on fresh cauliflower grab it up and make this Freezer meal Cheesy Cauliflower Soup recipe. Save time in the kitchen and have a warm meal ready when you don't feel like cooking. Or you can make this delicious Gouda Cauliflower Casserole as a side dish.
- Celery: Have you ever eaten stuffed celery? My mom always made it for the holidays. Here is a Celery Salad I am looking forward to trying soon.
- Eggplants: Eggplant Parmesan is delicious and a great way to enjoy fresh eggplant. How about a stuffed eggplant? This Sausage Stuffed Eggplant recipe looks amazing.
- Grapefruit: Grapefruit isn't just for breakfast. Sip on a sweet Grapefruit Ginger Fizz cocktail instead of eating your fresh Florida grapefruit.
- Guava: A Strawberry Mint Guava Agua Fresca sounds like the perfect summertime drink using fresh guava.
- Lettuce: Fresh Florida lettuce is the best for salads. Make this homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing and enjoy it on all your salads.
- Mushrooms: Cauliflower, Leek and Mushroom Casserole Recipe is a delicious way to serve fresh mushrooms. You can also preserve fresh mushrooms by drying them in a dehydrator.
- Oranges: Winter citrus is perfect for making marmalades. This Peach Orange Marmalade can be used with a combination of fruits.
- Papaya: Love fresh papaya? Did you know you can Freeze Papaya and use it in smoothies?
- Radishes: I picked up some fresh radishes at the Farmers Market and made delicious Sweet and Spicy Pickled Radishes.
- Snap Beans: Do you call them Snap Beans or Green Beans? No matter you can make them quick and easy when you make Instant Pot Green Beans and Potatoes.
- Squash: Winter is fresh squash season in Florida. You can buy all your favorite squash varieties and make this savory Roasted Acorn Squash recipe. If you're a fan of butternut squash you will love acorn squash. Or try something new like Kabocha Squash.
- Strawberries: My favorite Florida produce is Florida Strawberries. Have you ever wanted to learn how to make homemade Strawberry Jam?
Try dehydrating strawberries for a sweet snack this year.
- Sweet Corn: Florida sweet corn is the sweetest sweet corn you can buy. There are many more ways to eat sweet corn besides corn on the cob.
But when you do make corn on the cob and have leftovers this Crock Pot Pork Black Bean Corn Soup is the best way to use up leftover corn on the cob.
- Tangerines: Florida Tangerines are one of my favorite Florida citrus fruits.
- Tomatoes: I love a fresh vine-ripened tomato sandwich. But this Heirloom Roasted Tomato Ham Tart is perfect for lunch.
During the long cold winter, I love a Rosemary Bacon Tomato Grilled Cheese sandwich with a bowl of tomato soup. And when I have extra tomatoes to preserve I make Dehydrated Tomatoes.
Florida Seafood
Although there are "seasons" for Florida seafood you can usually find frozen Fresh From Florida seafood almost all year long.
Check the package and read the fine print. Make sure it says harvested in the USA. Florida Gulf Shrimp are the best.
During the month of February, Florida Stone Crab Claws are in season. If you have never eaten Florida Stone Crab Claws you are in for a treat.
Florida Stone Crab Claws have the sweetest crab meat you will ever taste.
Check out this Florida Stone Crab Claws with Key Lime Mustard Dipping Sauce recipe and watch a video to see the proper way to crack a stone crab claw. Or you can make Shrimp Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Peppers with Florida gulf pink shrimp.
More fresh produce by the month
Below you will find links to all of the monthly Fresh From Florida Produce Lists with recipes so you can enjoy all your favorite in-season Florida fruits and vegetables.
- Florida Produce in season during January
- Florida Produce in season during February
- Florida Produce in season during March
- Florida Produce in season during April
- Florida Produce in season during May
- Florida Produce in season during June
- Florida Produce in season during July
- Florida Produce in season during August
- Florida Produce in season during September
- Florida Produce in season during October
- Florida Produce in season during November
- Florida Produce in season during December
How To Preserve Fresh Fruits and Vegetables by freezing
Below you will find links to all of the monthly Fresh From Florida Produce Lists with recipes so you can enjoy all your favorite in-season Florida fruits and vegetables.
- How To Freeze Fresh Berries: Frozen fresh berries can be used to make desserts, smoothies and many of your favorite summer berry recipes.
- How To Freeze Fresh Papaya: Frozen fresh Papaya is perfect for breakfast smoothies.
- How To Freeze Fresh Sweet Bell Peppers: Frozen fresh sweet bell peppers can be used to make fajitas, and added to soup and stews.
- How To Freeze Fresh Mango: Frozen fresh mango is anther favorite tropical fruit to make a smoothie with.
- How To Freeze Fresh Summer Squash: I love adding frozen fresh squash to my summer saute's, soup and stew recipes.
Thomas Manley
Hi Arlene, Thank you so much for adding this pin to Pinterest. I live on the West coast of Florida in North Port close to Port Charlotte, I have not found any really good farms in this area to visit for either picking my own or buying to can/freeze etc. I do like going to Parkdale Farm in Plant City but, that is about 1 1/2 hours away from me. Do you know of any that may be a lot closer and have outstanding veggies like Parksdale would? Thanks and I do like the additional recipes you posted with this.
Arlene Mobley
Thomas, you are very welcome! I found a list of a few Farmers Markets that might be closer to you than Plant City. Check them out. https://www.pureflorida.com/things-to-do/shopping/farmers-markets/
I hope that helps!