Published on November 20, 2025
10 Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Available Year-Round
Contrary to what many may think, just because the weather isn’t suitable for agriculture doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy Quebec-grown fruits and vegetables in winter. Thanks to the growing greenhouse industry in Quebec, we can savor our favorite fruits and vegetables even in the middle of the cold season. There’s no valid excuse not to eat local foods 365 days a year.
Apples
The first orchard in Quebec soil was planted on Mount Royal in 1650. Since then, Quebecers have been enjoying apples! Even though they don’t grow in winter, they remain available until spring, just as tasty and crunchy as in the fall. How is this possible? Pomme Qualité Québec explains: “From the moment they are picked, apples are stored in large hermetic warehouses where oxygen, humidity, and a constant temperature of 2 °C are carefully controlled. This process preserves the apples and all their nutritional qualities until the next harvest.” During the season, visit the orchards directly. The rest of the year, look for apples identified by Pomme Qualité Québec or with our Aliments du Québec logo.
Tomatoes
Greenhouse tomatoes have been cultivated in Quebec since the 1980s. This production is possible thanks to technological advances in lighting that mimic sunlight, allowing us to enjoy fresh, flavorful tomatoes in winter as well as summer.
Some brands available in stores :
- Year-round: Demers, Savoura, Cultures Gen V, Les Serres Point du jour
- Summer only: L'Éden Rouge
Potatoes
Available year-round at an affordable price, their texture and taste make them versatile. White, red, yellow, and even blue, potatoes come in all colours. Around twenty different varieties are sold, classified according to their flesh type and culinary use.
Some brands available in stores :
Cucumbers
After tomatoes, cucumbers are one of the most important greenhouse crops. Popular varieties include English (long) and Lebanese (short) cucumbers. These economical vegetables store well in the fridge and are produced in Quebec greenhouses year-round, ensuring fresh, accessible cucumbers 12 months a year.
Some brands available in stores :
Lettuce
Oakleaf, red, mesclun, Boston, and lamb’s lettuce—these varieties can all be grown in greenhouses. Greenhouse lettuce production is very stable and sustainable, with 16 to 18 harvests per year! Hydroponic lettuce is even said to be tenderer and less fibrous than field-grown lettuce. So why miss out?
Some brands available in stores :
- Year-round: GoodLeaf, Cultures Gen V, Les Fermes AquaVerti
- Summer only: Serres Hydro Tourville, Attitude Fraîche
Strawberries
Strawberries are a favourite fruit in Quebec, eaten in abundance every summer. Thanks to greenhouse cultivation and technological innovation, strawberries are now grown and offered year-round. In winter, strawberries ripen on vertical plants under perfect conditions of warmth and humidity.
Some brands available in stores :
- Year-round: Savoura
- Summer only: all federation strawberries sold in baskets under Les Fraîches du Québec
Mushrooms
Technically, mushrooms aren’t exactly vegetables since they don’t have roots, leaves, or flowers and don’t grow from seeds. Nevertheless, we enjoy them as much in Quebec, and cultivated mushrooms are available year-round. Did you know urban mushroom farms exist?
Some brands available in stores :
Fresh Herbs
Greenhouse production makes perfect sense for fresh herbs, which we love year-round! Often sold in pots, they retain their freshness until you bring them home. Quebec offers around twenty varieties, perfect for all kinds of cuisine: Thai basil and mint for Asian dishes, dill for fish, etc.
Microgreens
Tiny but packed with benefits! Richer in nutrients than their mature counterparts, tasty and colourful, microgreens are highly popular. Did you know that consuming 25 grams of broccoli microgreens provides as many vitamins, enzymes, nutrients, and antioxidants as eating 1 kilogram of mature broccoli?
Grown indoors on soil and exposed to artificial or natural light, microgreens are available year-round.
Some brands available in stores :
- La ferme Les Formidables, Micro Verdure, Acqua-fuschia, Ferme Willika
Carrots
Field-grown carrots are available from July to May. They can be consumed in winter because they are long-storage vegetables: once harvested, they are stored in cold bins, between 0 and 2 °C, for 5 to 9 months!
And it’s organic!
In addition to producing excellent foods, greenhouses are ideal for growing organic fruits and vegetables. This closed environment is minimally exposed to external contaminants, which greatly supports natural growth without chemical products.
To discover more local and organic products, visit Québec bio.
