Early Spring: Storage Crops and the First Greens

March and April are transitional months in Northern New York. Winter storage supplies begin to decline before the new growing season reaches full production.

Depending on farm availability, shoppers may still find stored apples, potatoes, carrots, beets, onions, garlic, cabbage, and winter squash.

Cold-hardy greens are among the first fresh crops to return. Farms using greenhouses, high tunnels, or protective row covers may offer spinach, lettuce, kale, and other greens before outdoor fields are fully productive.

As temperatures rise, radishes, green onions, asparagus, and rhubarb may begin appearing. Early harvests can be limited, making flexibility especially helpful at this time of year.

Late Spring and Early Summer: Greens, Peas, and Strawberries

By late May and June, the local growing season begins to gather momentum. Leafy vegetables remain prominent while more field-grown crops start reaching stores and farmers' markets.

Look for produce such as

• Lettuce and mixed greens
• Spinach, kale, and Swiss chard
• Radishes and green onions
• Fresh herbs
• Peas
• Asparagus
• Rhubarb
• Early beets and carrots
• Strawberries

Northern New York’s strawberry season is popular but relatively brief. Weather can affect both the timing and size of the harvest, making June and early July good times to watch for locally grown berries.

July and August: Peak Produce Season

July brings a noticeable increase in locally grown fruits and vegetables. By August, shoppers can typically choose from one of the widest local produce selections of the year.

According to Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Northern New York seasonal guide, midsummer harvests may include:

• Lettuce and mixed greens
• Spinach, kale and Swiss chard
• Beets and carrots
• Snap peas and green beans
• Broccoli and cabbage
• Cucumbers
• Zucchini and yellow summer squash
• Potatoes
• Fresh herbs
• Mushrooms
• Raspberries and blueberries
• Tomatoes
• Sweet corn
• Bell and hot peppers
• Eggplant
• Onions and garlic
• Blackberries and melons

The Cornell resource covers Northern New York generally rather than serving as an exact Canton harvest calendar. Conditions and timing can differ among counties and individual farms.

Midsummer is also an excellent time to preserve local food. Tomatoes can become sauce, cucumbers can be pickled, berries can be frozen, and herbs can be dried or turned into pesto.

September and October: Apples, Squash, and Cool-Weather Crops

Early September may still bring tomatoes, sweet corn, peppers, eggplant, and summer squash. As temperatures fall, orchard fruit, cool-weather vegetables, and storage crops become more prominent.

Fall produce can include:

• Apples and pears
• Pumpkins
• Winter squash
• Potatoes
• Carrots and beets
• Onions and garlic
• Cabbage
• Broccoli and cauliflower
• Brussels sprouts
• Kale and Swiss chard
• Spinach, lettuce and arugula
• Turnips and parsnips

Apples, potatoes, onions, root vegetables, and winter squash can often be stored after harvest. That allows farms and retailers to continue offering New York-grown produce after outdoor production slows.

The New York State harvest chart provides a broader statewide overview. Northern New York harvests may begin later or end sooner than statewide ranges because of the region’s cooler climate.

Winter: Local Food Beyond the Harvest

Freshly picked field crops become less common from November through March, but local produce does not disappear.

Properly stored apples, potatoes, carrots, beets, onions, garlic, cabbage, turnips, parsnips, and winter squash can remain available after their outdoor harvest periods have ended.

Greenhouses and high tunnels may also provide limited greens or herbs during parts of the winter. A local apple sold in January, meanwhile, may have been harvested months earlier and kept under controlled conditions to maintain its quality.

Storage crops are an important part of seasonal eating in the North Country. They extend access to regional food without suggesting that every local item was harvested immediately before it reached the shelf.

Local Farms Serving the Canton Area

Nature’s Storehouse works with farms and food producers throughout St. Lawrence County and the surrounding region.

Farms and growers listed by the store include:

• Martin’s Farmstand in Potsdam
• Kent Family Growers in Lisbon
• Birdsfoot Farm in Canton
• Canton Apples in Canton
• Village Veggies in West Potsdam
• Whitten Family Farm in Winthrop
• Fullers Farm in Canton
• Milkweed Tussock Tubers in Heuvelton
• Cedar Hedge Farm in Lowville
• Bittersweet Farm in Heuvelton

Farm relationships, individual products, and delivery schedules can change. Visit the Nature’s Storehouse local supplier directory to learn more about the businesses represented in the store.

New to the store? Read our guide to buying organic and natural groceries in Canton, NY (blog to link: 2026-09-05 | Y | Organic Groceries in Canton, NY)

How to Shop Seasonally

Seasonal shopping works best with a flexible list. Instead of planning every meal around a specific ingredient, see what has arrived and build one or two meals around the freshest options.

A few strategies can help:

Making Fresh Produce More Affordable

Nature’s Storehouse accepts SNAP/EBT and participates in Double Up Food Bucks New York, helping eligible shoppers stretch their budgets on qualifying fruits and vegetables.

Program rules and benefit amounts can change. Review the store’s food-assistance information or ask a staff member about current terms before shopping.

The store also advertises a 10% senior discount on Wednesdays and a 10% military discount each day. Confirm current eligibility requirements in the store.