If you, like so many others, are now aiming to consume a diet that reflects your concern for the world and its farmers, you’re probably eating organically, locally or seasonally. Also like so many others, you might find it tricky to keep track of it all. I can’t blame you. It’s a lot of information to process, and the task can become overwhelming if, not so long ago, you were shopping quickly, cheaply, and conveniently.

Luckily there are countless resources available to make your kitchen quest an easy one. Shopping for organic foods has never been easier, as most certified organic food producers want to advertise their status with a big, colorful stamp on the front of their product’s packaging. If eating locally is your mission, look no further than co-ops and farmers markets for your fare. Eating seasonally, however, can be a challenge. Unless you are growing your own food or buying exclusively from a local producer, how can you distinguish between what is in season, and what has been shipped from South America?

This is where you usually have to do a little research. The key is to know what “zone” you live in. This refers to the “Hardiness Zone” originally set by the USDA. It takes into consideration temperature, weather patterns, and record lows and highs in the area. If you know the zone you live in (and the zones nearby), you can determine what produce is grown and when it is in season. If you can shop within these parameters you’ll be shrinking your carbon footprint by reducing the distance your food travels and, as a plus, you’ll boost your regional agricultural economy.
Compiled below is a list of Spring season herbs, fruits and vegetables to aid you on your journey to a clear conscience. Notated items are commonly grown within Wichita’s zone (Hardy Zone 6) and all others can be grown in the surrounding areas.

*Asparagus
*Radishes
Mint
*Beets
Snow Peas
Artichokes
Snap Peas
*Fava Beans
*Green Onions
*Parsley
Early Cherries
Baby Carrots
Apricots
*Rhubarb
Grapefruit
*Collard Greens
*Parsnips
*Dill
*New Potatoes
*Spring Baby Lettuce
*Spring Spinach

Bear in mind that this list is a modest one. There are many adventurous and experimental growers out there who probably have pineapple trees in renovated pool houses or else keep bamboo in their garage, but they are the exception. If you are an eco-minded Midwesterner shopping for spring produce, the above list is a great place to start.

What other fruits and vegetables are showing up in markets this year? What, despite the cost, can you simply not live without?

(Image Credit)

Related posts:

1. [eat] Home Grown Kansas: Wichita’s CSA
2. [nest] Seed Searching While it Snows Outside
3. [eat] Sustainability for Dummies
4. [do] Use the Sedgwick County Extension Office
5. [eat] Eating with Ethics