Fresh fruits are usually least expensive during their peak growing season, when local and domestic supply floods the market. For most popular fruits, that means summer months bring the lowest prices, though some varieties like citrus are cheapest in winter. Knowing which fruits hit their price floor in which months can cut your grocery bill noticeably without sacrificing quality.
Why Season Drives the Price
Fruit prices follow a basic supply-and-demand pattern tied to harvest cycles. When a fruit is in peak production, growers ship massive volumes to market all at once, and retailers drop prices to move the product before it spoils. When that same fruit is out of season domestically, it either comes from greenhouses, cold storage, or overseas farms, all of which add cost. The USDA’s Economic Research Service has documented these seasonal swings across commodities, confirming that prices are lowest when “supply volumes are at their peak.”
This pattern holds even when overall food prices are rising. In the 12 months ending November 2025, overall food prices rose 2.6 percent, but fresh fruit prices actually fell 0.6 percent year over year. Citrus fruits dropped even more steeply, with oranges and tangerines declining nearly 5 percent. So even in an inflationary environment, buying in season can work in your favor.
Summer: The Cheapest Window for Most Fruits
The widest selection of affordable fruit hits stores between June and August. Strawberries are a textbook example. Grower prices typically decline through the first four months of the year, then stabilize at their lowest levels from May through August before climbing again in the fall. That summer price floor can be 30 to 50 percent below winter highs, depending on the year.
Other fruits that bottom out in summer include:
- Peaches and nectarines: Domestic harvest peaks June through August, and prices reflect it.
- Blueberries: U.S. production surges from late May through July, pushing per-pint prices well below their winter levels.
- Watermelon: Peak supply runs May through September, with the lowest prices typically in July.
- Cherries: A short but intense season in June and July means prices can drop by half compared to imported cherries in winter.
- Grapes: Domestic table grapes from California are most abundant and cheapest from July through October.
If you want to stock up, summer is also the best time to buy in bulk and freeze. Berries, sliced peaches, and mango chunks all freeze well and let you lock in seasonal prices for months.
Winter: When Citrus Gets Cheap
Citrus is the major exception to the “summer is cheapest” rule. California’s orange, tangerine, and mandarin harvest runs from roughly November through May, which means domestic supply peaks in the cooler months. During the off-season, the U.S. imports tangerines and mandarins from Chile and Peru (mainly May through October), but imported fruit generally costs more than domestic.
Grapefruit follows a similar calendar, with Florida and Texas harvests peaking from December through April. Lemons are available year-round from California, but prices tend to dip in winter and early spring when production volumes are highest.
Fall: Apples, Pears, and Cranberries
Apple prices behave differently from most fruits because apples store exceptionally well in controlled-atmosphere facilities. The domestic harvest peaks in September and October, and prices do tend to be lowest in early fall. But because stored apples enter the market gradually, the price swings are more modest than you see with fragile fruits like strawberries or peaches. You might save 10 to 20 percent buying apples in October versus April, but the difference is less dramatic than with berries.
Pears follow a nearly identical pattern, with Bartlett and Anjou varieties harvested from August through October and priced lowest in early fall. Cranberries, harvested in September and October, are famously cheap right around Thanksgiving and often discounted further after the holiday.
Spring: A Transitional Period
Spring is when many fruits are at their most expensive. The previous year’s stored supply is running low, and the new domestic harvest hasn’t started for most warm-weather fruits. Strawberries begin to come down in price as California’s spring crop ramps up, typically reaching affordable levels by April or May. But peaches, blueberries, and cherries are still weeks away from domestic harvest, so any supply in stores is imported and priced accordingly.
The one bright spot in spring is tropical fruit. Mangoes imported from Mexico and Central America peak in April through June, and pineapple supply from Costa Rica stays strong through spring, keeping prices relatively low for both.
Practical Ways to Save Year-Round
Buying in season is the single most reliable strategy, but a few other approaches help. Farmers’ markets often undercut grocery stores during peak local harvest because there’s no distributor markup, and farmers would rather sell at a lower price than haul unsold fruit home. If your area has a pick-your-own farm, prices can be even lower.
Frozen fruit is worth considering when your target fruit is out of season. It’s typically harvested and frozen at peak supply, so you’re essentially getting in-season pricing year-round. Per-pound costs for frozen berries and mango are often half what you’d pay for fresh out-of-season equivalents, and the nutritional value is comparable since freezing locks in vitamins at harvest.
Canned fruit (packed in juice, not syrup) offers similar savings, though the texture changes. For smoothies, baking, or oatmeal toppings, both frozen and canned work well as budget-friendly substitutes during the expensive months.