What’s in Season in March?

Posted on Tuesday, 11 March 2025 under Stories

March is here! With the cooler days behind us and the first day of spring nearing, March is an exciting time for growers and eaters alike. This month marks the beginning of our growing season and brings a variety of fresh foods our way. We encourage you to explore what local foods are in season and try something new.

With impending tariffs on imported food products, you may notice a reduced variety of certain items in grocery stores. This is why shifting to seasonal eating habits and purchasing locally grown food is so important. Eating seasonally supports local farmers, ensures fresher ingredients, and reduces the environmental impact of food transportation.
Below we have highlighted certain foods that are in season in March in BC and accompanied them with some recipes to inspire your seasonal cooking. For more information about foods in season in BC visit What’s in Season by Buy BC and What’s in Season by BC Farmers’ Markets.

Many of the foods in season this month, like apples, potatoes, and onions, are storage crops. They are harvested in the fall and carefully stored to keep local produce fresh and available through the winter and spring.

Apples

Apples are a versatile ingredient for meals throughout the day. Enjoy them whole, add them to salads, or incorporate them into baked goods. For something sweet and savoury, try this Apple Cheddar Leek Tart recipe by Cooking in My Genes, which pairs the crisp sweetness of apples with the richness of cheddar and the mild bite of leeks.

Bok Choy

This nutrient-rich leafy green is perfect for stir-fries, soups, or steaming as a simple side dish. For a quick and flavorful option, try Restaurant-Style Bok Choy with Garlic Sauce by Tiffy Cooks. The savoury garlic sauce enhances the natural crispness of the bok choy, making it a delicious and easy addition to any meal.

Endive

With its slightly bitter crunch, endive makes a great base for salads or a tasty addition to coleslaw. Try the Endive and Green Apple Salad with Blue Cheese recipe from SOS Cusine, a refreshing and tangy side dish that balances the bitterness of endive with the sweetness of apples and the creaminess of blue cheese.

Fennel

Fennel’s subtle anise flavour adds depth to soups, salads, and roasts. For a simple yet flavourful soup, try Carrot and Fennel Soup with Chili Garlic Oil from Chatelaine. The combination of sweet carrots and fennel, with a hint of spice creates the perfect warm soup for a brisk spring day.

Ginseng

Ginseng can be incorporated into savoury dishes. Try the Ginseng Stir-Fry recipe from GinsengOntario for a nutrient-packed meal that pairs ginseng with crisp vegetables and a flavourful sauce.

Kale

Kale is packed with vitamins and can be used in soups, salads, curries and even smoothies. The Kale and Chickpea Curry recipe from Canada’s Food Guide is a hearty, plant-based dish that combines delicious spices with chickpeas and kale.

Leeks

Leeks add a mild onion-like flavour to dishes and are great in soups, tarts, and roasted dishes. Try Roasted Leeks with Parmesan from Canadian Living, for a simple yet delicious way to prepare leeks.

Mushrooms

Locally grown mushrooms are a great addition to a variety of dishes, from risotto to tacos. These Maple-Chipotle Portobello Tacos by Maple from Canada offer a smoky, sweet, and spicy twist on tacos while highlighting the meaty texture of portobello mushrooms.

Red and Yellow Onions

Onions add a depth of flavour to countless recipes, and they also make a great pickled condiment. Try the Pickled Red Onion recipe from Love & Lemons to add a tangy crunch to tacos, salads, and sandwiches.

Potatoes

A staple ingredient in many households, potatoes can be roasted, mashed, or fried. For a crispy, flavourful option, try The Perfect Salty, Crispy Roasted Hasselback Potatoes by The Kitchen Magpie.

Eating seasonally supports local farmers, reduces reliance on imported goods, and brings a fresh variety of flavours to your table throughout the year! We hope this year you take the initiative to incorporate more fresh, seasonal, local foods into your meals.