Vegetables
Short seasons.
Serious flavor.
Locally grown vegetables and grapes for Midwest retailers, harvested at peak and on the shelf fast.
Grown Close By
A short trip from field to store.
Alongside our core commodities, Riveridge markets in-season produce from Michigan and Indiana farms. That gives shoppers a clear local connection and confidence in where their food comes from.
Because our seasons are short, everything is harvested at peak ripeness. Bold flavor, and a fast trip from farm to store.
Nobody grows more asparagus.
Michigan grows more asparagus than any other state. Sandy soil, warm spring days and a Lake Michigan climate create ideal conditions for this early-season crop.
Asparagus often kicks off the growing season and helps fund other commodities for Michigan growers. The harvest window runs about six weeks at a hurried pace. In hot weather, fields may need cutting twice in a single day.
Michigan asparagus is hand-snapped at harvest, so each spear breaks at its natural point. That avoids woody, fibrous ends and leaves a tender, high-quality product.
Asparagus facts
- A spear can grow a full length in one day, even overnight.
- Nutrient-packed and rich in vitamins and minerals.
- Fiber and inulin support healthy gut bacteria.
- Folate and antioxidants support cognitive performance.
- Only Michigan asparagus is hand-snapped at harvest.
- A single field can be harvested more than 25 times in one season.
The Rest of the Harvest
Twelve crops, one growing season.
Cabbage
Our longest vegetable window, running July into late October for slaw, kraut and fresh pack programs.
Sweet Corn
Picked and cooled the same day, which is the whole reason Midwest corn tastes the way it does.
Tomatoes
Field-grown and vine-ripened through the fall, including Spencer Brand from High Acres Fruit Farm.
Bell Peppers
Thick-walled and heavy for their size, harvested green through the back half of summer.
Chili Peppers
A range of heat levels for retailers building out a Hispanic produce set.
Cucumbers
Slicing cucumbers from July into late September, straight off Michigan and Indiana farms.
Green Beans
Snapped tender and moving from July through the end of September.
Eggplant
Glossy, firm and available through the late-summer stretch.
Squash
Yellow, zucchini and hard winter varieties overlapping from June into mid-September.
Blueberries
Michigan is a top blueberry state and the window is short, roughly six weeks in midsummer.
Table Grapes
A late-season crop running from late August into the middle of October.
Asparagus
The season opener, hand-snapped and moving hard for six weeks each spring.
Availability
Pack sizes for any program.
Asparagus ships in banded and bagged formats plus bulk. Tell us how your set is built and we will match the pack to it.
Asparagus packs
- 1# banded, 11# carton
- 1# banded, 28# carton
- 1# bagged
- 2.25# bagged
- Bulk
What Is in Season Now
Michigan harvest calendar.
Typical Midwest harvest windows for everything Riveridge markets. Dates shift year to year with the weather, so contact sales for current availability.
| Crop | Typical harvest window | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Apples | Year-round | Apples |
| Asparagus | May 15 to June 25 | Vegetables |
| Sweet Cherries | June 20 to July 30 | Fruit |
| Hard Squash | June 20 to Sept 15 | Vegetables |
| Yellow Squash | June 20 to Sept 15 | Vegetables |
| Zucchini Squash | June 20 to Sept 15 | Vegetables |
| Cucumbers | July 4 to Sept 25 | Vegetables |
| Cabbage | July 4 to Oct 30 | Vegetables |
| Blueberries | July 10 to Aug 25 | Fruit |
| Green Beans | July 10 to Sept 30 | Vegetables |
| Chili Peppers | July 15 to Sept 30 | Vegetables |
| Sweet Corn | July 20 to Sept 25 | Vegetables |
| Bell Peppers | July 22 to Sept 30 | Vegetables |
| Eggplant | July 25 to Sept 25 | Vegetables |
| Tomatoes | July 25 to Oct 10 | Vegetables |
| Peaches | Aug 1 to Sept 5 | Stone fruit |
| Prune Plums | Aug 15 to Sept 15 | Stone fruit |
| Table Grapes | Aug 20 to Oct 15 | Fruit |
Questions
Vegetable questions, answered.
When is Michigan asparagus in season?
Roughly May 15 through June 25. The window runs about six weeks and shifts slightly year to year with spring weather.
Does Michigan grow the most asparagus in the United States?
Yes. Michigan grows more asparagus than any other state. Sandy soil, warm spring days and Lake Michigan’s moderating climate make it ideal ground for the crop.
Why is Michigan asparagus hand-snapped?
Each spear breaks at its natural point rather than being cut at a fixed height. That removes the woody, fibrous end and leaves a tender spear. Michigan is the only state that hand-snaps at harvest.
What vegetables does Riveridge market?
Asparagus, cabbage, cucumbers, sweet corn, green beans, bell peppers, chili peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, and hard, yellow and zucchini squash, plus blueberries and table grapes.
Where are Riveridge vegetables grown?
On family farms across Michigan and Indiana.
Build a local program around the harvest. Tell us what you need and when you need it.