What's in season in BC: a month-by-month guide to British Columbia food

Eating in season in British Columbia is not a slogan. It is the difference between a strawberry from Delta in June and a strawberry from somewhere else in January. The province has coastal waters, fertile river valleys and a dry interior, so the calendar is long and varied.

Seasons move. A cold spring delays crops, and fisheries open and close each year according to government decisions. Use this as a guide, then look at menus, farmers markets and fish counters for what is actually there.

What is in season in BC in spring?

• March and April: early greens, rhubarb and herbs, plus the first spring markets. Seafood includes oysters and, depending on the year, herring and halibut.
• May: asparagus, new greens, radishes, and the start of the spot prawn season on the coast. Spot prawns are caught in a short window, usually announced by the federal fisheries department, and are sold fresh or frozen.
• June: strawberries arrive, followed by early cherries in the Okanagan. Peas and fresh garlic scapes appear at markets.

What is in season in BC in summer?

• July: raspberries, blueberries, cherries, apricots, tomatoes, zucchini, peas and early corn. Wild salmon fisheries operate in different areas and seasons.
• August: peaches, plums, nectarines, corn, peppers, tomatoes and basil, plus Okanagan fruit stands in full swing. This is the peak month for outdoor markets.
• Late August and September: the first apples and pears, grapes starting to ripen for wine, and squash.

What is in season in BC in autumn?

• September: apples, pears, grapes, squash, potatoes and mushrooms. The wine harvest begins in the Okanagan and Fraser Valley.
• October: pumpkins, kale, root vegetables, apple cider and the Thanksgiving harvest meal. Wild mushrooms are sold at markets from the coast and interior.
• November: stored apples, cabbages, leeks and beets. Oysters are in good form as the water cools.

What is in season in BC in winter?

• December: root vegetables, winter greens, citrus (imported) and festive baking. Local oysters, Dungeness crab (depending on the fishery) and smoked salmon are popular at the holidays.
• January and February: kale, leeks, stored apples and preserves. Dine Out Vancouver, a restaurant festival, usually runs in late winter, with set menus at many restaurants.

Which BC foods have limited seasons?

Spot prawns, certain salmon runs, wild mushrooms and some crab fisheries have short or changing seasons. Fresh seafood from a boat or a fishmonger is best when the fishery is open. If a menu offers spot prawns in January, ask whether they are frozen.

How do you find what is in season?

1. Visit a farmers market. Stallholders will tell you what is ripe this week.
2. Look at menus. A menu that changes with the month suggests the kitchen is buying seasonally.
3. Ask the fishmonger. Fisheries open and close, and a good fishmonger knows what came in.
4. Look for BC labels. Fruit stands and grocery stores often mark local produce.

What about the Okanagan and the Fraser Valley?

The Okanagan is the province's fruit region, with cherries in July, peaches in August, apples from September, and wineries throughout. The Fraser Valley supplies berries, corn, dairy and eggs to Metro Vancouver. See the guides to the South Okanagan and the Fraser Valley farm route for trip ideas.

Is local food more expensive?

It can be, but peak-season produce is often a bargain at a farmers market, where you buy straight from the grower. Menu prices in restaurants are before tax: British Columbia adds 5 percent GST on food and an additional provincial tax on alcohol.

What are the best ways to cook seasonal BC food at home?

Keep it simple. Eat berries and peaches raw, roast squash and root vegetables in autumn, steam spot prawns briefly in spring, and preserve or freeze surplus fruit while it is cheap. Farmers market vendors are usually happy to suggest a recipe or a way to store what they sell.

Does the weather change the calendar?

Yes. A late frost can cut the cherry crop, a heat wave can bring peaches a week early, and wildfire smoke or flooding can disrupt harvests and markets. Dates are a guide, so use farm pages and market feeds for current information.

How do you track the BC food calendar yourself?

The calendar sticks when you eat to it. In the Mosey app, rate the dish by name and add the month in your note, such as "June, first Delta strawberries" or "May, spot prawns, steamed", then build a list called BC year with a section for each season. By next spring, the list is your own reminder of when to look for what.

Rating places that share a tag, such as Fresh Seafood or Farm Producer, earns a badge for that kind of food, and the app's seasonal food votes let you say what belongs on the table this time of year. Share the list with an invite link so a friend can add the month they love.

More guides to read next:

• Fraser Valley farm route: berries, corn, cider and farm stands from Langley to Chilliwack
• South Okanagan wine country: Oliver, Osoyoos and the Golden Mile
• Farmers markets on Vancouver Island: Victoria, Salt Spring, Nanaimo and the Cowichan Valley

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.

Before the next season turns, open the Mosey app and rate something that is at its best in BC right now.