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

Spring

  • Copper river king salmon: The first wild king salmon of the year lands at Sea-Tac in mid-May. Canlis, Westward and Anthony's all program the arrival with a single-day special.
  • Spot prawns: The Puget Sound spot prawn season opens in May for a four-day fishery. Taylor Shellfish and Pike Place Fish run them fresh from the bay for about a week.
  • Asparagus: Walla Walla and Yakima Valley asparagus hit the Ballard farmers market in April. Cafe Juanita and Atoma both feature it raw and grilled into June.

Summer

  • Rainier cherries: The Cascade Mountains state fruit lands in June at Pike Place fruit stalls. Eat them straight; they peak the week of the Solstice and dry up by mid-July.
  • Tomatoes and stone fruit: Yakima and Walla Walla tomatoes hit the Saturday markets in July. Peaches, nectarines and plums from the same valleys run alongside through September.
  • Sockeye and silver salmon: Bristol Bay sockeye runs into July; the silver coho close the run in September. Westward and Salty's both make a season programme of the rotating fish.

Autumn

  • Washington oysters: Hood Canal and Samish Bay oysters fatten through October and November. Taylor Shellfish and The Walrus and the Carpenter rotate Olympias, Kumamotos and Pacifics.
  • Wild mushrooms: Chanterelles and lobster mushrooms come out of the Olympic and Cascade ranges from late September into November. Foragers sell direct at the Ballard market.
  • Apples and pears: Washington is the country's largest apple producer; honeycrisp, opal, and pink lady arrive from September. Pears from Wenatchee Valley follow through October.

Winter

  • Dungeness crab: The Puget Sound recreational and commercial Dungeness seasons run December through March. Pike Place Chowder and Westward both run a winter Dungeness programme.
  • Geoduck: Geoduck digs run year-round but are best in winter when the siphon meat is firm. Sushi Kashiba and Maneki both work mirugai nigiri into the omakase from January.
  • Manila clams and razor clams: Manila clams from Hood Canal anchor Pike Place Chowder's chowder programme. Pacific razor clams from Long Beach run a four-day winter fishery in February.

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