Which Foods Travel Farthest To Reach The Grocery Store?

Blueberries are a sweet summer treat. Rich Pirog, the Associate Director of the Leopold Center at Iowa State University, says stateside blueberry production basically goes from south — starting in Florida in late March or early April — to north, ending in Oregon, Washington, Michigan and then Canada in late September or early October. Then South America becomes the main source and the little berries double in price (they're highly perishable).

Instead of topping your cereal with blueberries during the fall and winter, try having some citrus on the side. Grapefruit and oranges are winter fruits.

Try this recipe: Beet, Orange, and Watercress Salad

Pirog says we used to only eat California grapes, but there weren't any to be found during cold winter months. The Chilean industry kicked in in the 1970s to solve that problem, and consumption more than doubled. Depending on where you live, if you're chomping on grapes from April to mid-May they're Mexican grapes; from late May until early November, the fruit is likely from California; and from December through April they come from Chile and sometimes South Africa.

Like little bursts of flavor? Try pomegranates, which are in season in fall and early winter and come from California, on their own or as a topping for yogurt and ice cream. Unlike grapes, you'll need a utensil.

Try this recipe: Rice Pudding with Pomegranate Syrup

Save that peach pie recipe for the summer. Early in the season, in late April and May, you'll find peaches from Georgia and California (the California season extends through September). Later in the season, peaches might come from Washington, Michigan, South Carolina, or New Jersey. But from November through the spring, peaches hail from all over the globe, including Argentina and Thailand.

Pears, on the other hand, are a fall fruit and come mostly from California, Washington, and Oregon.

Try this recipe: Honey Pears with Rosemary

Asparagus is a sure sign of spring, and California and Washington are top stateside producers. But before we see the fruits of the states' harvest, asparagus arrives from Mexico. Come colder months, most asparagus comes from Peru, according to USDA data. (You can also find this information with the Leopold Center's very cool tool.)

For some green, try kale, a winter veggie that's chock-full of nutrients.

Try this recipe: Peasant-Style Potato and Kale Soup

The winter's dearth of fresh produce can leave one reaching for a can of fruit. But remember that canned produce might have come from far away too. Pirog says canned pineapple is often from Thailand and Costa Rica; peaches might come from Spain; canned mandarin oranges are from China, and asparagus is likely from Peru. He adds that the canning of produce follows the harvest season of whatever country is producing it, but since you won't find a harvest date, those peaches may have been harvested three months ago or two years ago. The "best used by" date might provide a clue — the further in the future the best-by date, the more recently it was likely harvested.