What is in season in Orlando. and what to order when the market changes.
Spring
- Plant City strawberries: Plant City's winter strawberry season peaks January through early April, and Orlando markets (Audubon Park, Winter Park Farmers Market) move the peak harvest from late February to early April. The Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City runs early March.
- Florida mango (early): Early mango varieties (Glenn, Carrie) start in late April from South Florida groves and reach Orlando farmers markets by May.
- Pompano: Atlantic pompano runs March through May along the East Coast. The Boathouse at Disney Springs and the Cocoa Beach seafood shacks plate it whole and seared.
- Honeybell tangelos: The honeybell tangelo (Minneola) season is short, mid-January to early February. Orlando citrus stands sell them by the bag.
Summer
- Florida mango (peak): Peak mango season June through August. The Winter Park Saturday market and Orlando Farmers Market sell Glenn, Tommy Atkins, Kent and the prized Mallika and Nam Doc Mai varieties from backyard South Florida growers.
- Stone crab (closed): Stone-crab season closes May 1 through October 14 statewide. The Boathouse at Disney Springs pivots to fresh Gulf shrimp and grouper.
- Gulf shrimp: Florida Gulf shrimp peaks in summer. The Cocoa Beach and Indian River day-trip kitchens plate it head-on.
- Florida sweet corn: Florida sweet corn peaks May to June from the muck farms south of Orlando. Roasted at the Winter Park Saturday and Maitland Sunday markets.
Autumn
- Stone crab (opening): Florida stone-crab season opens October 15. The Boathouse at Disney Springs runs claw orders straight from the Keys, and Christner's Prime Steak adds a seasonal chilled-claw plate.
- Florida grouper: Black grouper from the Gulf is autumn-strongest. The Boathouse and the Cocoa Beach grouper-sandwich kitchens push the season.
- Conch: Bahamian conch returns to the menu at Cocoa Beach seafood shacks and a few Florida-leaning Orlando rooms. Conch chowder runs from October.
- Florida key lime: Key limes peak July to October. Florida key lime pie at P Is for Pie in Audubon Park and Briarpatch in Winter Park runs through the autumn at peak quality.
Winter
- Indian River citrus: Indian River navel and Valencia oranges, ruby red grapefruit and tangerines peak November to March. Orlando is the Florida citrus marketing capital and the holiday shipping window.
- Stone crab claws: Stone-crab claws hit peak quality December through February. Christner's Prime Steak runs the chilled jumbo claw order with mustard sauce.
- Florida pompano: Pompano migrates south through the Florida coast in winter. Canvas Restaurant at Lake Nona serves it grilled with citrus brown butter.
- Plant City strawberries (early): Plant City strawberries begin December and run through April. The Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City runs early March.