Fresh Spring Produce Guide + Delicous Recipes

Celebrate the season with the best spring produce! Discover 30 gluten-free recipes using fresh, vibrant ingredients like asparagus, peas, strawberries, and more.

Photo collage with photos of spring produce and text overlay: spring produce guide.

I don’t know about you, but I’m always ready for spring! San Diego and the rest of Southern California are at their prettiest right now, with lush green hillsides blanketed in yellow mustard, vibrant orange poppies, and fuchsia-hued ice plants.

Alas, in a couple of months, much of that green will have turned golden brown, so for now, let’s celebrate all the delicious spring produce Mother Nature has bestowed upon us!

Spring is the season for many of my favorite vegetables, especially asparagus, artichokes, and fresh peas. It’s also the start of strawberry season, and we are so lucky to have our local San Diego farmers markets lush with freshly picked strawberries and other goodies.

Spring Produce: Why Eat in Season?

While I’m a fan of eating a wide variety of produce year-round and keeping my freezer well-stocked with fruits and vegetables, there’s a joy to eating in season. Some benefits of eating in season, from a dietitian’s perspective, include:

Peak Nutrition. Spring produce is harvested at its peak, providing optimal vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support overall health. Just be sure to eat it right away!
Support your local farmers. No matter what time of year, eating in season is a great way to support your farmers.
Eat sustainably. Eating seasonally reduces the need for long-distance transportation and reduces carbon emissions.
Better affordability. It’s no secret that in-season, local produce is much more affordable than produce shipped halfway across the world.
It’s fun! I don’t know about you, but I love looking forward to the different varieties of produce each season!

What’s In Season? Spring Produce List

Spring Produce Vegetables

Artichokes
Arugula
Asparagus
Carrots
Collard Greens
Fava Beans
Leeks
Peas: Snap Peas and Green Peas
Radishes
Swiss Chard

Spring Produce Fruits

EA Stewart and a farmer holding strawberries.

Grapefruit
Mango
Rhubarb
Strawberries

Let’s Eat! Seasonal Spring Produce Recipes

Whether you’re looking for vibrant salads, nourishing soups, spring-inspired entrees, flavorful sides, or delicious gluten-free desserts, my spring seasonal produce guide and collection of gluten-free spring-inspired recipes will help you make the most of the season’s bounty. P.S. And it will help you eat more plants!