Spanish Fruit and Vegetables — A Seasonal Guide

Spain is one of the largest countries in Western Europe, containing many beautiful things: comfortable resorts, incredible architectural monuments, sculptures, palaces and castles. This country is filled with sun, fun and bright colours. People come here for the warm sea and unforgettable impressions. Suppose you look at the calendar of Spanish holidays. In that case, there is an event almost every week in one or another town, because here they are very fond of various celebrations.

The country has an excellent climate, but the relief is not very suitable for agriculture and farming. The reason is that most of the territory is occupied by mountains, and all precipitation occurs in winter and early spring.

Nevertheless, this specific factor has not prevented Spain from ranking among the world's top growers of citrus fruits, grapes, olives, and some subtropical fruits and vegetables.

The best time for holidays in Spanish seaside resorts is May — October. But it is better to choose autumn or spring for tour holidays without exhausting heat. In winter, travellers come here to ski resorts.

• Prices in Spain for Food in Restaurants, Cafes and Supermarkets

At the same time, travellers can please themselves and their loved ones all year round with juicy gifts of nature, which in abundance ripen under the hot Spanish sun. Let's learn what fruits and vegetables are grown in Spain and what you should try during your stay in Spain.

What types of fruit are grown in Spain?

Various fruits are grown throughout the year. For example, at the beginning of the year, they harvest oranges and tangerines, which are then exported. You have probably tasted the wonderful Spanish clementines on New Year's Eve, harvested in December-January. It is also when the first harvest of strawberries, lemons, grapefruits, apples and persimmons ripen.

Orange... This sunny fruit is considered one of the symbols of Spain. A long time ago, it was brought here by the Arabs. The natives liked it so much that, to this day, they consider it a fruit of happiness and love.

The harvest season of orange is in February. At this time, Spain continues to harvest the same fruit as the month before.

The beginning of spring is the last chance to taste the winter citrus fruits: clementines and tangerines. The new harvest of these fruits will be in late autumn. In the meantime, the markets are selling more and more strawberries.

In April, the orange season ends, but the first harvest of cherries begins. Strawberries and apples ripen. Mushmulas are on sale. In May, markets sell all the same fruit crops as in April, but apricots and nectarines are added to the assortment. Andalusia and Valencia are famous for early varieties of these fruits.

With the arrival of summer, the variety of fruits increases. What fruit is ripe in Spain in June? Lemons, strawberries, medlars, cherries, nectarines, apples, apricots and the first raspberries keep ripening. The first peaches, pears and figs appear. Harvest of melons and watermelons begins.

July is the driest and hottest month, giving fruits a rich flavour. The juiciest peaches and nectarines ripen at this time. The main fruits in Spain in July are the same as the month before. The season of cherries ends, and strawberries are no longer to be found, so those who didn't have time to try them will have to wait until next year. In August, grapes are added to the July assortment. But it is not yet as tasty and fragrant as in autumn.

With the onset of autumn, the number of holidaymakers gradually decreases. In September, the harvest of watermelons and melons ends, but the first persimmons appear. The counters contain grapes, figs, apples, nectarines and peaches. At this time in Spain, quince is also harvested.

In mid-autumn, clementines and grapefruits ripen again. October is the season of cherimoya. That is an unusual exotic fruit with a creamy cocktail flavour. The end of autumn brings a new harvest of oranges and other citrus fruits. But the peak of the new harvest season will be at the beginning of winter.

Let's summarise and show you fruit seasonality chart:

When travelling, many people wonder what exotic fruits growing in Spain are worth trying. Let's describe some of the most common and popular ones.

As mentioned above, cherimoya is grown here. It is better to buy it in winter when it is ripe. It should be of uniform colour, without dark spots and cracks.

Indian fig opuntia is another representative of the Spanish flora. It is a variety of cacti with delightful fruits. Only well-soaked fruits with all needles removed from the surface are suitable for eating.

Loquat (Japanese medlar) is another exotic fruit that ripens in May. Its flavour can be both sour and sweet, and this fruit contains many vitamins C, B and A. Lokwa is eaten raw; it is also used in compotes and jams, desserts and candies. When buying medlar, choose whole and, most importantly, ripe fruit, as unripe loquat can cause a malfunction in the gastrointestinal tract.  

Kiwano (horned melon) is an exotic fruit that tastes like cucumber and banana and is sold in Spain all year round. Its fruit is high in potassium, essential for normal muscle function. The simplest way to eat a kiwano melon is to slice it open and spoon the pulp directly from the rind. Also kiwano goes as a side dish alongside cooked meat.

Seasonal Vegetables in Spain

Vegetables in Spain are pretty familiar to us. Let's start our story with tomatoes, to which a whole holiday is dedicated here. La Tomatina is held on the last Wednesday of August in the Spanish town of Buñol in the Autonomous Community of Valencia. People from all over the country come here to participate in the "tomato battle".

The most straightforward greenhouse tomato varieties resemble real tomatoes only in appearance and are not very expensive. But the expensive types, which can be found often in markets than supermarkets, have a more intense flavour. At the same time, their price can reach 4-5 euros per kilo. These are such varieties as cherry, raf and kumato. Of unusual vegetables, we can mention the artichoke. It is a delicious, rich in fiber, antioxidants, and other nutrients vegetable from which many traditional dishes are prepared.

Cucumber Alficoz is also known as the snake cucumber or snake melon. It has very long stalks, round leaves, and small, pale yellow flowerss. But it is a type of melon.

In addition, aubergines, cucumbers, herbs, courgettes and other familiar vegetables are also grown here.

Fruit prices

Spanish food prices vary greatly depending on the region and location of tourist crowds. Supermarkets offer more stable food prices. But fruit and vegetables are best bought at markets. When choosing a market, pay attention to the places where locals prefer to shop.

Here is a table with average prices for fruit and vegetables in Spain:

*Prices are taken from online supermarkets and are indicative. Prices for fruit and vegetables may vary depending on the season.

Tips for travellers

Spanish markets are full of colour and flavour. If you want to treat your children to seasonal fruit or vegetables, it's worth finding the nearest market.

For those who want to save money, coming to the market at closing time is better. Usually, traders finish work by lunchtime, so 12:00 to 13:00 is the most favourable time to shop. Prices at this time can be reduced by one and a half to two times.

Spaniards are very customer-orientated people. If you buy fruit from the same vendor several times, he will give you a small gift on subsequent purchases. It can be a bundle of greens or some fruit.

It should be noted that each region and town has its schedule of farmer markets. The market may work in big cities seven days per week and in district centres — once or twice weekly. Prices at bazaars in big cities are much higher than in district centres.