March Produce Guide Highlights Best Buys
A new guide to March produce recommends focusing on greens like spinach and chard, root vegetables, and brassicas like broccoli and cabbage for the best value. It also notes that early spring arrivals like artichokes and asparagus may start appearing. Due to winter storm damage to Florida crops, California-grown produce may see higher demand and prices, making local, in-season choices even more critical for budgets.
In the Bay Area, March offers a variety of seasonal produce beyond the basics. Look for asparagus, pea shoots, and radishes to start making an appearance alongside citrus fruits like grapefruits, kumquats, lemons, and mandarins. Fremont residents have several year-round farmers markets to choose from, including the Kaiser Fremont Farmers Market on Thursdays, the Niles Farmers Market on Saturdays, and the Irvington Farmers' Market on Sundays. The highlighted greens and brassicas are part of the cruciferous vegetable family, which also includes arugula, bok choy, and radishes. These vegetables are rich in vitamins A, C, E, and K, as well as fiber and compounds called glucosinolates, which are being studied for their potential to lower the risk of various cancers. Eating one serving of leafy greens daily has been linked to cognitive abilities similar to those of people over a decade younger. To maximize the life of fresh greens like spinach, proper storage is key. Keep the leaves dry and refrigerated in a container lined with paper towels to absorb excess moisture. This can extend their freshness for up to a week or even longer. Avoid washing the greens until just before use, as lingering moisture can accelerate spoilage. Recent extreme weather, including heatwaves and flooding in key agricultural areas of California, has impacted crop yields and may continue to affect prices. In 2024, heat-related crop losses for California's vegetable and pulse producers led to over $22 million in indemnity payments from the USDA's Risk Management Agency, a 27 percent increase from the same period in 2023. These disruptions underscore the economic benefit of buying locally sourced, in-season produce.
