January Produce in Season

The first of the year there is a long list of fruits and vegetables in that are in season.

January is my favorite month because Florida strawberries are in season.

I love buying a flat of Plant City strawberries and making my favorite Florida strawberry recipes. 

Favorite Florida Produce

My favorite way to make strawberry season last all year is to make homemade strawberry jam.

Or when I need an easy dessert pie I will make this no-bake Strawberry Pudding Pie.

Fruits and Vegetables in season in Florida

• Avocados: Ever made an avocado cake? I have been dying to try this Avocado Coconut Pound Cake recipe.
• Sweet Bell Peppers: Crock Pot Stuffed Bell Peppers are perfect for dinner. Or when I buy a bunch of bell peppers I will slice them and freeze them.
• Broccoli: One of my favorite vegetables is broccoli and it is gorgeous this time of the year. Parmesan Roasted Broccoli is just what I need this week.
• Cabbage: Homemade Sweet Coleslaw goes with so many meals.

• Carambola: My favorite way to enjoy Carambola (aka tropical star fruit) and fresh strawberries are to make Carambola and Strawberry Jam. You can enjoy both of these fresh winter fruits all year long. Or you can make dehydrated star fruit and enjoy a sweet dried star fruit snack any time you want.
• Cauliflower: Cauliflower is so popular these days. I love making cheesy Gouda Cauliflower Casserole with a head of fresh cauliflower.
• Celery: Celery is one of those vegetables you don't think about that much but when you add it to soups and stews it adds a flavor that you can tell is missing when you skip it from a favorite recipe. This Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup recipe is a perfect example.

• Eggplants: Fresh eggplant makes a delicious gluten-free vegetarian lasagna for those following a special diet. Or I love to make a grilled eggplant sandwich for lunch.
• Grapefruit: A fresh Florida Pink grapefruit is a perfect breakfast with a little honey drizzled over it. Or it is perfect added to a citrus fruit salad. Or for a special occasion, you can use fresh grapefruit juice to make these Pink Rose Mimosas f.
• Guava: Guava BBQ Chicken Wings sounds like a recipe I need to try.
• Lettuce: Do you love tuna lettuce wraps? I love making these Tuna Avocado Wraps for a light lunch.

• Mushrooms: Fresh mushrooms are healthy and delicious. A great way to enjoy your favorite fresh mushrooms is to make Instant Pot Chicken Wild Rice Soup. Fresh mushrooms don't last very long. One way you can always have mushrooms on hand is to dehydrate them. Dried mushrooms can be rehydrated and used in your favorite mushroom recipes.
• Oranges: Freshly squeezed Florida orange juice is perfect served alongside these Scrambled Egg Breakfast Muffins. Or if you find some blood oranges you could make a Blood Orange Thyme Paloma Cocktail.

• Passion Fruit: I love making homemade curd but have never tried Passion Fruit Curd. I can't wait to try this passion fruit recipe.
• Peanuts: Try your hand at making Southern Style Boiled Peanuts the next time you come across some fresh Florida peanuts at the farmers market.
• Radishes: Refridgerator Sweet Pickled Radishes are delicious on a salad or a sandwich.
• Green Beans: Fresh snap beans or green beans are one of my favorite Florida winter produce. I love making Instant Pot Green Beans and Potatoes with fresh green beans and new baby potatoes.
• Squash: Fresh yellow squash is a favorite of mine. I love making a simple sauteed vegetable side dish with fresh squash. Or freeze sliced yellow squash so you have some in the freezer to add to soups or stews. .

• Florida Strawberries: Strawberry season is my favorite time of year. Florida strawberry season is in full swing. Check out this amazing  Strawberry Balsamic Ice Cream recipe I made. It is so good! Or make this No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Pie for dessert.

• Sweet Corn: Florida Sweet Corn is the sweetest fresh corn you will ever eat. Have you ever tried a Grilled Corn Casserole? Do you have an Instant Pot? It is so easy to cook corn on the cob in the pressure cooker.
• Tangerines: Switch out tangerines for the lemons in this Easy Homemade Lemon Curd recipe and spoon some on a warm biscuit for a little bite of heaven.
• Tomatoes: I love adding fresh from Florida tomatoes to my pasta salads or making Quick Pickled Green Tomatoes. This Asparagus Tomato Pasta Salad recipe has two of my favorite vegetables in it. Asparagus and vine-ripened tomatoes.

Fresh From Florida 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.

January is one of the best months to buy Florida produce no matter where you live. Look for the "Fresh From Florida" logo when you shop for fresh produce.

Want to know what produce is in season for the rest of the year?

• 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

When fresh fruits and vegetables are in season I love to pack my freezer full of frozen fruit or vegetables to extend the season and for the convenience of having a freezer full of frozen fruit and vegetables for my favorite recipes.

• 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.
• How To Dehydrate Orange Slices: You can make your own dried orange slices for gin. Or make a sweet dried orange slices garland to decorate your home.

Preserving fruits or vegetables by drying

• How to dehydrate strawberries
• How to dehydrate pineapple
• How to dehydrate orange slices
• How to dehydrate watermelon

Dehydrating fruits, vegetables and herbs

Check out the Food Dehydrating page where you can find more recipes for dehydrating fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs.