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August brings the start of school, thunderstorms and monsoons, and relief from some of the summer heat.  It also means a whole new crop of locally grown fruits and vegetables will be available from the farmer’s market and grocery store.  Ask for locally grown options wherever you shop and fill your family’s plates with fabulously fresh locally grown food.

Here is what is in season in August and some ideas to help you fill your menu with seasonal foods grown right here at home.

Apples

• Baked Pork Chops and Apples
• Crunchy Apple Salad

Basil

• Basil Butter Sweet Potato Patties
• Pistachio Salad

Black-eyed Peas

• Spicy Black-eyed Peas
• Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing 

Chiles

• Balsamic London Broil
• Cantaloupe Basil Salsa

Corn

• Old Mexico Style Pozole
• Cha Cha’s Cornbread

Cucumbers

• Cucumber Sandwiches
• Armenian Cucumber Tomato Salad

Figs

• Fig and Lemon Chicken
• Burrata Bruschetta with Figs

Grapes

• Pistachio Salad
• Chutney Melon Chicken Salad

Green Beans

• Balsamic Green Beans with Pine Nuts
• Corn and Green Bean Salad

Melons

• Arizona Melon Dessert
• Cool Arizona Melon Soup

Okra

• Hearty Hamburger Stew
• Okra and Tomatoes

Peaches

• Peach Paradise
• Mosaic Fruit Rollups

Pears

• Farmer’s Favorite Salad
• Apple Pear Salad

Plums

• Plum Dumplings
• Wacky Mac and Plum Summer Salad

Potatoes

• Chilled Potato Leek and Beet Soup
• Scalloped Gold Potatoes with Goat Cheese

Pumpkins

• Harvest Pumpkin Bars with Icing
• Pumpkin Cake Cookies

Shelling Beans

• Fresh Shelling Bean Salad
• Shell Bean Succotash

Summer Squash

• Garlic Roasted Summer Squash
• Summer Squash Casserole

Winter Squash

• Glazed Acorn Squash
• Spaghetti Squash with Tomatoes

Sweet Peppers

• Join the Party Salad
• Sharla’s Arizona Beef and Veggie Stir Fry

Tomatoes

• Country Garden Salad
• Buckboard Bacon Burger

Zucchini

• Puffed Up Zucchini
• Zucchini and Squash Spice Cake

Zucchini Blossoms

• Grilled Fish with Crab Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms and White Wine Sauce
• Pasta with Zucchini, Zucchini Blossoms, and Caramelized Onions

Related articles

• What’s In Season in June? (fillyourplate.org)
• What’s in Season in July (fillyourplate.org)
• Top 6 Summer Picks for Local Arizona Foods (fillyourplate.org)