Your Upper Midwest Spring Produce Guide: Making the Most of Early Season Vegetables

Today I’m dreaming of walking into the first farmers market of spring. The crisp morning air carries the promise of fresh greens and early vegetables. As a fellow Minnesota mom, I've learned that these quite mornings are the perfect time for dreaming up ways to bring those fresh spring flavors to our family table.

I'm sharing my tried-and-true timeline for Upper Midwest spring produce, along with practical tips for fitting market visits and meal prep into our busy family schedules. Because let's be honest—we all want to serve nutritious, seasonal meals, but not if it means missing those precious afternoon games and concerts.

When to Expect What: Your Early Spring Timeline

Here in the Upper Midwest, our growing season follows its own rhythm. By late April and early May, our farmers' hoop houses are bursting with the first harvests. Here's what you can expect:

The First Wave (Late April): I've learned that rhubarb and asparagus are like nature's alarm clock—they signal the start of our fresh eating season. These early treasures have a short window, so I've developed a system to make the most of them while you juggling spring conferences and track meets.

The Second Wave (Early May): This is when our local farmers bring out the first tender greens—arugula, spinach, and Swiss chard. Last year, I discovered that our family loves arugula when it's this fresh and tender. These greens are perfect for quick dinner salads before evening activities paired with the frozen wild rice soup I made last fall.

Finding Your Local Food Community

Building relationships with local farmers has been a game-changer for our family's seasonal eating journey. Here's how to get started:

Start Small:

• Visit your local food co-op and chat with the produce manager

• Consider splitting a CSA share with another busy family, now is the perfect time to sign up!

• Look for your local farmers market and schedules, here are some websites to start you search

Minnesota Farmers' Market Association (MFMA): https://www.mfma.org/farmers-markets

Minnesota Grown Directory: https://minnesotagrown.com/search-directory

Wisconsin Farmers Market Association: https://www.wifarmersmarkets.org

Travel Wisconsin's Market Directory: https://www.travelwisconsin.com/things-to-do/food-drink/farmers-markets

Michigan Farmers Market Association: https://mifma.org/find-a-farmers-market

Iowa Farmers Market Association: http://iafarmersmarkets.org

Quick-Prep Methods for Busy Families

The secret to making seasonal cooking work with a packed schedule? Having a plan that actually fits your life. Here's what works for my family:

Sunday Prep Strategy: While my daughter is finishing homework, I'll grill some chicken or hard-boil eggs to add protein to our weekday salads. This takes about 30 minutes and saves us hours during the week.

Make-Ahead Magic: Remember that container of wild rice soup in your freezer from fall? Pair it with a fresh spring salad for a perfect bridge-the-seasons meal that comes together in minutes.

Planning for Success

Take 15 minutes this week—maybe while waiting at practice—to scan your family's spring schedule and note:

• When your local market opens

• Which weekends work for market visits

• Your family's favorite spring recipes

This small step now means you'll be ready when those first spring vegetables appear. And isn't that what we're all trying to do—feed our families well without missing life's important moments? Download my 5-Step Guide to Seasonal Meal Planning for my complete system that works for busy families.

Enjoy the season you are in, while dreaming of future meals.

Until next time!

AnnaBelle

P.S. What is your favorite spring recipes that works around a busy schedule? Drop a comment below or share your thoughts on Instagram @AnnaBelle_SeasonalEats. I love hearing how other busy moms make this work!