August Produce Guide and Recipes

August is the golden hour of summer produce! Gardens are bursting, farmers’ markets are overflowing, and the flavors are at their absolute peak. If you’re like me, you’re looking for any excuse to eat fresh and stretch the season’s best ingredients into simple, wholesome meals.

In this August Produce Guide are 9 summer stars you’ll find in abundance right now, plus a few tips, fun facts, and recipes to inspire your cooking!

Why eat in season?

• Better flavor and nutrition – when you eat produce that’s in season, the way nature intended to, you can taste the flavor and vibrancy of the fruit, plus it’s packed with nutrients. I always say fresh fruit hits differently, and that’s coming from someone who grew up in a tropical country.
• Sustainable efforts – eating with the seasons is one of the best way we can support the plant. They typically don’t need to travel far which means fewer emissions and less packaging.
• Supports local growers – and finally, my favorite way to support local growers and local economy. Small farmers work very hard to bring us this beautiful food. It’s community in the best way.

Which brings me to the next point…

Have you considered joining a CSA?

CSA (community supported agriculture) boxes are filled with freshly picked seasonal produce, ofter harvested the same day! When you join a CSA you not only eat with the seasons but you learn to cook with vegetables that you wouldn’t normally pick up at the grocery store.

Here are some of my favorite fruits and veggies to enjoy this month

Tomatoes

Nothing says summer quite like a juicy tomato. August and September are peak months for tomatoes. They are perfect sliced into an Heirloom Tomato Salad and turned into Multi-purpose Tomato Sauce.

Tip: keep fresh tomatoes on the counter, stem-side down for better flavor!

Zucchini

One of summer’s most versitile vegetables, zucchini is always a star in my garden and kitchen! Grill it, sauté, spiralize it, bake into Chocolate Zucchini Muffins or Air Fryer Zucchini Fries.

Fun fact: zucchini is 94% water which makes it a hydrating vegetable that’s also low on calories.

Avocado

Okay, avocados may not grow in your backyard (unless you are very lucky!) but they are at their best, this time of year. Our favorite way to use up avocados? well, guacamole off course!

Fun stories: growing up, we had an avocado tree in our backyard, and let me tell you, those avocados were huge and incredibly delicious. My grandma would whip up the most amazing homemade avocado hair mask, which made our hair super shiny and soft.

Quick tip: To ripen an avocado faster, place it in a brown paper bag with a banana for a day or two.

Basil

Fresh basil adds an unmistakable burst of flavor to any dish. It pairs beautifully with peaches, tomatoes and drinks. Our favorite recipe that highlights the delicious flavor of basil is this Thai Basil Beef Stir Fry.

Storage tip: Treat basil like fresh flowers! snip the stems and keep them in a glass of water at room temp. Refrigeration can turn the leaves black.

Green Beans

Crisp, snappy, and delicious raw or cooked, green beans are a summer side dish staple. In my garden I have both bush bean and Pole beans varieties. Generally I am able to harvest a good size batch every 3 days. Make this Chicken Thighs and Green Beans recipe.

Serving idea: Blanch them quickly and toss in a reusable silicone bag and freeze it for fresh ready green beans all year round!

Broccoli

While broccoli may not necessarily scream summer, late summer harvest is often the sweetest and most tender. You can see below a photo of my homegrown broccoli. Over here we simply LOVE this Broccoli Casserole with Crispy Onions!

Try this: Roast broccoli florets with garlic and a sprinkle of parmesan for a crave-worthy side dish.

Bell Pepper

Sweet, crunchy, and available in every color of the rainbow, bell peppers are perfect for stuffing, roasting, or snacking raw.

Did you know? Red bell peppers are just fully ripened green peppers—so they’re sweeter and richer in nutrients!

Peaches

Peach season is pure magic. We love visiting local farms this time of year to harvest fresh peaches. Slice them into salads, make smoothies, use in baking or eat fresh off the pit!

Just an idea: this Peach Frosé one of our favorite summer drinks, fresh and cold almost like a slush, we love having a glass by the poolside.

Cabbage

Cabbage is quite the powerhouse. Over the years I’ve learned to enjoy a fresh head of cabbage it in more ways than I ever anticipated. I have also been growing my own cabbage which is super fun.

Fun fact: Cabbage is packed with fiber and vitamin C, and it stores well in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Got some fresh cabbage from the farmer’s market? Try this stunning Red Cabbage Citrus Salad and this family favorite Fried Cabbage with Sausage Skillet.

Enjoy August to the fullest! Use this guide to stock up on the best harvest weather, focus your meals on what’s fresh, and lean into recipes that make simple ingredients shine.