The prime of the fresh produce season is upon us as we look to elevate our meals with those summer classics. 

Caitlin Mellendorf is a Nutrition Educator at the University of Illinois Extension in DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt Counties. She explains the summer produce season will gradually get more robust, but for now, strawberries and asparagus are the hot items you'll find in season.

According to Mellendorf, those cold-weather crops are starting to come into season. Radishes, lettuces, and many more are prime this time of the year. Cabbage and broccoli are going to be at their freshest right now. 

We're just now starting to get into the time of the year where tomatoes and peppers may start popping up at farmers markets or grocery stores. Mellendorf encourages taking advantage of those locally grown foods at your local grocery store.