Find out which locally grown produce (fruits, vegetables, and plants) are at their peak each month, and enjoy Rochester-area harvest festivals that celebrate them.
Most of the time, I’m a fan of charts and graphs, but when it comes to harvest seasons, I really just want to know what I can purchase fresh at that moment.
This monthly breakdown has been taken in part from the Department of Agriculture and Markets Harvest Calendar, with the addition of local flowers, Christmas trees, and festivals.
Month-by-Month Locally Grown Harvest
Summer-Fall Harvest Season
Off-Season
Plus, check out some of our Rochester region farm and farmers markets!
Summer-Fall Harvest Season
June
Hot This Month
Strawberries, Peonies
Harvest Festivals
Ellwanger Garden Peony Weekend
More Fresh Produce Available
- MAR – JUN(mid) Asparagus
- MAY – JUL Rhubarb
- MAY – AUG Turnip Greens
- MAY – SEP Beet Greens
- MAY – SEP Radishes
- MAY – OCT(mid) Lettuce
- MAY – OCT(mid) Spinach
- JUN-JUL + SEP-OCT Peas
- JUN – AUG Garlic
- JUN – OCT(mid) Squash, Summer
- JUN – OCT(mid) Zucchini
- JUN – OCT Swiss Chard
- JUN – OCT Herbs
- JUN – NOV Broccoli
- JUN – NOV Beets
- JUN(mid) – OCT Tomatoes
- JUN(mid) – NOV Cabbage
Strawberries: 14 Places to Pick Your Own
Here are a few places you can pick your own strawberries, and festivals where you can taste everything from jams to shortcake to strawberry wine.
July
Hot This Month
Raspberries, Lavender & Cherries
Harvest Festivals
Ol’Factory New York Lavender Festival
Wickham Farms Lavender Festival
More Fresh Produce Available
- MAY – JUL Rhubarb
- MAY – AUG Turnip Greens
- MAY – SEP Beet Greens
- MAY – SEP Radishes
- MAY – OCT(mid) Lettuce
- MAY – OCT(mid) Spinach
- JUN – JUL(early) Strawberries
- JUN-JUL + SEP-OCT Peas
- JUN – AUG Garlic
- JUN – OCT(mid) Squash, Summer
- JUN – OCT(mid) Zucchini
- JUN – OCT Swiss Chard
- JUN – OCT Herbs
- JUN – NOV Broccoli
- JUN – NOV Beets
- JUN(mid) – OCT Tomatoes
- JUN(mid) – NOV Cabbage
- JUL – SEP(mid) Peaches
- JUL – SEP Blueberries
- JUL – SEP Plums
- JUL – OCT(mid) Peppers
- JUL – OCT Beans, Snap
- JUL – OCT Potatoes
- JUL – NOV Apples
- JUL – NOV Carrots
- JUL – NOV Onions
- JUL – NOV(mid) Cucumbers
- JUL – DEC Collard Greens
Raspberries: 10 Places to Pick Your Own
Here are a few places around Rochester you can pick your own raspberries, starting in July with the early varieties. Fall varieties ripen in late August.
Cherries: 12 Places to Pick Your Own
Here are a few places you can pick your own cherries near Rochester. The season runs mostly in July, but start checking in late June and call before going.
August
Hot This Month
Blueberries, Corn & Sunflowers
Harvest Festivals
Phelps Sauerkraut Weekend Phelps
More Fresh Produce Available
- MAY – AUG Turnip Greens
- MAY – SEP Beet Greens
- MAY – SEP Radishes
- MAY – OCT(mid) Lettuce
- MAY – OCT(mid) Spinach
- JUN – AUG Garlic
- JUN – OCT(mid) Squash, Summer
- JUN – OCT(mid) Zucchini
- JUN – OCT Swiss Chard
- JUN – OCT Herbs
- JUN – NOV Broccoli
- JUN – NOV Beets
- JUN(mid) – OCT Tomatoes
- JUN(mid) – NOV Cabbage
- JUL – SEP(mid) Peaches
- JUL – SEP Blueberries
- JUL – SEP Plums
- JUL – OCT(mid) Peppers
- JUL – OCT Beans, Snap
- JUL – OCT Potatoes
- JUL – NOV Apples
- JUL – NOV Carrots
- JUL – NOV Onions
- JUL – NOV(mid) Cucumbers
- JUL – DEC Collard Greens
- AUG Currants
- AUG – SEP Blackberries
- AUG – SEP Cantaloupes
- AUG – SEP Prunes
- AUG – OCT Leeks
- AUG – NOV(early) Eggplant
- AUG – NOV(mid) Squash, Winter
- AUG – NOV Cauliflower
- AUG – NOV Turnips
- AUG – NOV Kale
- AUG(early) – OCT Pears
- AUG(mid) – NOV(mid) Celery
- AUG(late) – SEP Grapes
Sunflowers: 4 Fabulous Fields Around Rochester
August is officially the month of sunflowers. We’re lucky to have some spectacular places around Rochester to celebrate this fantastic late-summer flower!
Blueberries: 9 Places to Pick Your Own
August is blueberry month! Here are a few places around Rochester you can pick your own blueberries.
September
Hot This Month
Grapes, Garlic & Peaches
Harvest Festivals
Casa Larga Purple Foot Festival
More Fresh Produce Available
- MAY – SEP Beet Greens
- MAY – SEP Radishes
- MAY – OCT(mid) Lettuce
- MAY – OCT(mid) Spinach
- JUN-JUL + SEP-OCT Peas
- JUN – OCT(mid) Squash, Summer
- JUN – OCT(mid) Zucchini
- JUN – OCT Swiss Chard
- JUN – OCT Herbs
- JUN – NOV Broccoli
- JUN – NOV Beets
- JUN(mid) – OCT Tomatoes
- JUN(mid) – NOV Cabbage
- JUL – SEP Blueberries
- JUL – SEP Plums
- JUL – OCT(mid) Peppers
- JUL – OCT Beans, Snap
- JUL – OCT Potatoes
- JUL – NOV Apples
- JUL – NOV Carrots
- JUL – NOV Onions
- JUL – NOV(mid) Cucumbers
- JUL – DEC Collard Greens
- JUL(early) + SEP – OCT Raspberries
- AUG – SEP Blackberries
- AUG – SEP Cantaloupes
- AUG – SEP Prunes
- AUG – OCT Leeks
- AUG – NOV(early) Eggplant
- AUG – NOV(mid) Squash, Winter
- AUG – NOV Cauliflower
- AUG – NOV Turnips
- AUG – NOV Kale
- AUG(early) – OCT Pears
- AUG(mid) – NOV(early) Corn
- AUG(mid) – NOV(mid) Celery
- SEP – OCT Watermelon
- SEP – OCT Beans, Lima
- SEP – OCT Pumpkins
- SEP – NOV Brussels Sprouts
- SEP – DEC Beans, Dry
Grapes: Pick Your Own at Jerome’s
My family has been going to Jerome’s U-Pick Grapes for 20 years. To avoid the crowds, go the week before or after the Naples Grape Festival.
Stone Fruit: 4 Places to Pick Your Own
Peaches, plums, nectarines and apricots (stone fruit) hit their prime mid-August-mid-September. Here are a few places you can pick your own.
October
Hot This Month
Apples & Pumpkins
Harvest Festivals
GCV&M Agricultural Society Fair
Wayne County Apple Tasting Tour
More Fresh Produce Available
- APR-MAY + OCT-DEC Parsnips
- MAY – OCT(mid) Lettuce
- MAY – OCT(mid) Spinach
- JUN-JUL + SEP-OCT Peas
- JUN – OCT(mid) Squash, Summer
- JUN – OCT(mid) Zucchini
- JUN – OCT Swiss Chard
- JUN – OCT Herbs
- JUN – NOV Broccoli
- JUN – NOV Beets
- JUN(mid) – OCT Tomatoes
- JUN(mid) – NOV Cabbage
- JUL – OCT(mid) Peppers
- JUL – OCT Beans, Snap
- JUL – OCT Potatoes
- JUL – NOV Carrots
- JUL – NOV Onions
- JUL – NOV(mid) Cucumbers
- JUL – DEC Collard Greens
- JUL(early) + SEP – OCT Raspberries
- AUG – OCT Leeks
- AUG – NOV(early) Eggplant
- AUG – NOV(mid) Squash, Winter
- AUG – NOV Cauliflower
- AUG – NOV Turnips
- AUG – NOV Kale
- AUG(early) – OCT Pears
- AUG(mid) – NOV(early) Corn
- AUG(mid) – NOV(mid) Celery
- SEP – OCT Watermelon
- SEP – OCT Beans, Lima
- SEP – NOV Brussels Sprouts
- SEP – DEC Beans, Dry
Apples: 22 Places to Pick Your Own
Many of our farms offer a family-fun experience, with hay rides, cider & donuts and activities for the kids, in addition to pick your own apples.
Pumpkin Patches & Farm Markets Around Rochester
Spending time on our Rochester-area pumpkin farms—hayrides, fresh apple cider & donuts, corn mazes—is the perfect autumn experience.
November
Hot this Month
Winter Squash
More Fresh Produce Available
- APR-MAY + OCT-DEC Parsnips
- JUN – NOV Broccoli
- JUN – NOV Beets
- JUN(mid) – NOV Cabbage
- JUL – NOV Apples
- JUL – NOV Carrots
- JUL – NOV Onions
- JUL – NOV(mid) Cucumbers
- JUL – DEC Collard Greens
- AUG – NOV(early) Eggplant
- AUG – NOV Cauliflower
- AUG – NOV Turnips
- AUG – NOV Kale
- AUG(mid) – NOV(early) Corn
- AUG(mid) – NOV(mid) Celery
- SEP – NOV Brussels Sprouts
- SEP – DEC Beans, Dry
Off-Season
December
Hot This Month
Christmas Trees
Special Events
Holidays at the Rochester Public Market
More Fresh Produce Available
- APR-MAY + OCT-DEC Parsnips
- JUL – DEC Collard Greens
- SEP – DEC Beans, Dry
22 Christmas Tree Farms Around Rochester
One of the most popular holiday family traditions is searching for the perfect real Christmas tree on the farm and decorating it together.
January
Hot This Month
Snow
February
Hot This Month
Ice Wines
Special Events
Casa Larga New York Ice Wine Festival
Eastman Museum’s Dutch Connection
March
Hot This Month
Fresh Maple Syrup
Harvest Festivals
More Fresh Produce Available
- MAR – JUN(mid) Asparagus
Maple Syrup: 12 Sweet Sugar Shacks
During Maple Weekends March 20-21 and 27-28, 2021, producers open their sugar shacks to celebrate the process of turning sap into syrup.
April
Hot This Month
Spring Flowering Bulbs
Special Events
Spring Show at Lamberton Conservatory
More Fresh Produce Available
- MAR – JUN(mid) Asparagus
- APR-MAY + OCT-DEC Parsnips
May
Hot This Month
Lilacs
Harvest Festivals & Special Events
Flower City Days at the Rochester Public Market
Linwood Gardens Tree Peony Festival
More Fresh Produce Available
- MAR – JUN(mid) Asparagus
- APR-MAY + OCT-DEC Parsnips
- MAY – JUL Rhubarb
- MAY – AUG Turnip Greens
- MAY – SEP Radishes
- MAY – OCT(mid) Lettuce
- MAY – OCT(mid) Spinach
A helpful note from the Department of Agriculture and Markets: The above periods are approximate. Harvest periods may begin a week to ten days earlier during a warmer than usual year or new season extension strategies. A cool spring will delay crop maturity. Call farms for exact dates of harvest.
Farm & Farmers Markets
Enjoy a stop at some of our local produce markets while you’re out exploring the Rochester area.
Monroe County Markets
City of Rochester Public Market
The Mall at Greece Ridge Farmers Market
Webster’s Joe Obbie Farmers Market
Pittsford Village Community Farmers Market
Sunscape Farms CSA
Wickham Farms CSA
McCracken Farms CSA
Village of Fairport Farmers Market
Regional Markets
G & S Orchards CSA
Lagoner Farms CSA
Lori’s Market Basket Farm Stand CSA
Lima Presbyterian Church Farmers’ Market
Genesee Country Farmers’ Market
There are U-Pick farms all around the Greater Rochester Area. Often times, picking your own product is as much a family adventure as it is entertainment!
The Flower City: Exploring Rochester’s Extraordinary Flowers and Trees
Rochester became a global center for flower and tree nurseries in the mid-1800s, fostering our identity as The Flower City.
18 Rochester-Area Chocolatiers
Many of our fine Rochester-area chocolatiers are 3rd- and 4th-generation descendants using traditional family recipes with modern twists.
49 of the Best Ice Cream Shops Around Rochester
Ice cream, gelato, Italian ice, frozen yogurt, and custard—we love these shops for their outstanding atmosphere, taste, variety, and innovation.
What is your favorite locally grown produce or farm market?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Your insight and experience is invaluable!