Seasonal Food in Portland Maine 2026: When to Visit

What is in season in Portland. and what to order when the market changes.

Spring

Fiddleheads: Maine fiddlehead ferns open the spring market in late April and run through May. The Portland Farmers' Market stalls at Deering Oaks are where they land first; Fore Street and Solo Italiano put them on the menu within days.
Maine river herring: Anadromous Maine river herring (shad and alewife) run April and May; smaller restaurants and the working waterfront fishmongers stock them in season.
New season Maine lobster: Soft-shell Maine lobster season opens in late May and the early-season prices are the year's lowest. Eventide, Boone's Fish House and Scales work the new-shell lobster onto the menu from the first landings.

Wild Maine blueberries: Wild Maine blueberry season runs July through August, peaking late July. Two Fat Cats blueberry pie, Standard Baking blueberry galette and The Holy Donut wild blueberry donuts all run in season.
Soft-shell Maine lobster: Peak soft-shell Maine lobster season runs June through September. Eventide's brown-butter lobster roll, Scales' lobster roll and Becky's Diner all source from Casco Bay; lobster boats unload at Custom House Wharf daily.
Maine sweet corn: Maine sweet corn peaks August. Farmers Market stalls at Deering Oaks Park run honey-and-sugar bicolor through the month; many Portland restaurants run corn chowder and grilled-corn sides.
Heirloom tomatoes: Maine heirloom tomato season runs August into early October. Snell Family Farm and Six River Farm stalls at Portland Farmers' Market are the cooking choice.

Hard-shell Maine lobster: Hard-shell Maine lobster, the prized texture for whole-boiled lobster dinner, runs late September through November. Higher prices than summer soft-shell but the meat is firmer.
Maine oysters: Maine oyster season is year-round but peaks October through December. Eventide, Boone's Fish House and Scales run an oyster bar from local farms (Glidden Point, Pemaquid, Bagaduce).
Apples and cider: Maine apple season runs late August through October. Harvest on the Harbor in October features Maine cidermakers; orchards in Cumberland and Pownal supply Portland Farmers' Market through autumn.

Maine sea scallops: Maine sea scallop season runs December through early April for the day-boat catch. Harbor Fish Market and the Portland Fish Pier daily auction supply restaurants; Fore Street features them through winter.
Root vegetables and winter squash: The winter Portland Farmers' Market at Stevens Square Community Center runs root vegetables, winter squash, parsnips, beets and storage onions through January and February.
Maine maple syrup: Maine Maple Sunday is the fourth Sunday of March, when sugarhouses across the state open. Portland Farmers' Market stalls carry maple syrup and maple cream from late winter sugaring.