August Produce Guide: What's In Season Now?

Here’s your ultimate guide to August produce, including buying tips, storage hacks, and seasonal recipes.

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Published on July 29, 2021

Wondering what's in season in August? It's your lucky day. From figs and plums to tomatoes and tomatillos, embrace late summer fruits and vegetables with this handy August produce guide.

What's Fresh August List — Allrecipes Illustrations

Blackberries

Everyone loves a fresh, plump, juicy blackberry in late summer. The fruit, which peaks in July and August, is delicious in everything from cobblers and pies to jams and jellies. No matter what you do, don't forget to take advantage of this underrated berry while it's in season.

What to Look For

Look for glossy berries with a deep blue/purple hue. Ideally, your blackberry haul should be uniform in color. Avoid moldy or bruised fruits.

Storage

Keep your blackberries in a shallow, ventilated container in the crisper drawer of your fridge. The plastic clamshell box they likely came in is the perfect storage spot. Fresh blackberries don't have a long shelf life, so eat them within a few days.

Recipes

a closeup view of a slice of double-crust blackberry pie on a white plate — Kari

Try one of Our Best Blackberry Desserts and explore our entire collection of Blackberry Recipes.

Cucumber

Stay as cool as a cucumber this August with an abundance of fresh, well ... you know. The green fruit (yes, a cucumber is a fruit!) shines in refreshing seasonal salads and side dishes. You can get cucumbers all year long, but they're best in summertime.

What to Look For

Buy dark green cucumbers without yellow spots, blemishes, bruises, or wrinkles. The best cucumbers are firm and don't have any soft spots.

Storage

Cucumbers only last a day or two at room temperature, so it's best to keep them in the fridge. However, cucumbers are prone to something called "chilling injury," so keep them in the warmest part of your fridge (towards the front, furthest from the cooling elements). Use them within a week for the freshest flavor.

Read more: How to Store Cucumbers

Recipes

Dad's Creamy Cucumber Salad by cheesemite 3649947_original — cheesemite

Explore our entire collection of Cucumber Recipes.

Eggplant

What's not to love about eggplant, the gorgeous summer nightshade with so much to offer? Whether you're using it for eggplant Parm, baba ganoush, or ratatouille, eggplants are the deep purple ingredient you need to use before it goes out of season.

What to Look For

Try to find smooth, shiny eggplants that feel heavy for their size. They should be firm, but soft enough for your finger to leave a slight indentation. Small eggplants are generally less bitter than their large counterparts.

Storage

Loosely wrap unwashed, uncut eggplant in a plastic bag and store at room temperature for up to three days.

Recipes

Try one of Our Top-Rated Eggplant Recipes and explore our entire collection of Eggplant Recipes.

Figs

There are two fig seasons every year: A small harvest in early summer and a large harvest in late summer/early fall. Take advantage of this year's second harvest and make something delicious with fresh figs, such as a salad, cookies, or preserves.

What to Look For

Opt for plump, soft figs with the stems still attached. Avoid those that look dried or bruised.

Storage

Fresh figs don't last long, so make sure to use them up while they're still good. Store them in a single layer in the fridge for a few days. Extra firm figs may be left at room temperature for a day or two until they soften.

Recipes

a sliced loaf cake with figs on the side — Fig-Ricotta Cake. lutzflcat

Try one of Our Favorite Fresh Fig Recipes and explore our entire collection of Fresh and Dried Fig Recipes.

Green Beans

Though you may associate green bean casserole with fall festivities, the vibrant legume is at its freshest in summer. Even picky eaters will enjoy the bright veggie in salads, as a refreshing side dish, or roasted to crispy perfection in the oven.

What to Look For

Look for green beans that are crisp enough to easily snap in half. Avoid brown or bruised beans.

Storage

Store fresh green beans in a sealed container in the crisper drawer of your fridge. This way, they'll last up to a week.

Recipes

closeup of crisp-looking green beans on a white ceramic dish — lutzflcat

Try one of Our Favorite Fresh Green Bean Recipes. Plus, explore our entire collection of Fresh, Canned, and Frozen Green Bean Recipes.

Plums

Here's a fun fact: The plum is the second most cultivated fruit in the world. The gorgeous fruit is as tasty as it is hardy, so it's no surprise that it's so popular. Use fresh plums to make decadent desserts, delicious jams, and sweet sauces for savory dinners.

What to Look For

Choose plums that are firm, yet soft at the tip. Look for smooth skins with minimal cracking.

Storage

Store plums at room temperature until they're ripe. Once they're ripe, cover tightly and place in the crisper drawer of your fridge. They'll last about a week.

Recipes

a shallow white bowl with a wide rim filled with juicy-looking red plum halves — lutzflcat

Learn about the Best Ways to Make the Most of Fresh Plum Season. Plus, explore our entire collection of Plum Recipes.

Tomatillos

Tomatillos add a burst of flavor, color, and freshness to any dish. The small green fruit (which isn't a small tomato, by the way) is delicious eaten raw or cooked.

What to Look For

Opt for firm tomatillos with fresh-looking husks. Avoid tomatillos that are soft, moldy, or sticky.

Storage

Leave the husks on your tomatillos until you're ready to eat them. Store them at room temperature or in the fridge.

Recipes

Authentic Enchiladas Verdes | Photo by Allrecipes Magazine.

Explore our entire collection of Tomatillo Recipes.

Tomatoes

There's nothing quite like a plump, fresh-from-the-vine, juicy tomato in summertime. Ripe tomatoes, which are the stars of seasonal farmers' markets and grocery store produce sections, are incredibly versatile. Use them to make refreshing salads, hearty sauces, spicy salsas, and so much more.