What's in Season the Last Week of July Near Ann Arbor

If you’ve been to a Washtenaw County farmers market in the last week or two, you’ve probably noticed the tables getting fuller. Late July is the tipping point of the growing season — the point where CSA boxes go from “pretty good” to “we need to figure out what to do with all this.”

Here’s what’s worth paying attention to right now.

Sweet Corn and Tomatoes Are Both Peaking

These two get their own deep-dive posts — where to find the best sweet corn and where to find the best tomatoes — but the short version is: this is the week. Both crops need real heat to hit peak flavor, and by late July they’ve had it. If you’ve been putting off a trip to the market, don’t wait much longer.

Peaches Are Starting to Show Up

Michigan’s peach belt runs along the west side of the state, not here in Washtenaw County, so you won’t find many local u-pick peach orchards nearby. But late July is when Michigan peaches start arriving at markets and farm stops around Ann Arbor, trucked in from growers further west. Argus Farm Stop is a good bet for finding them alongside other Michigan produce, since they work with 200+ farms across the state.

If you’re a member of Community Farm of Ann Arbor, it’s worth knowing their own biodynamic orchard includes peach, apple, pear, and paw-paw trees — one of the few places in the immediate area actually growing peaches on preserved Washtenaw County farmland.

Green Beans and Cucumbers Are in Full Swing

Both crops arrived in early-to-mid July and by now most farms have plenty. This is the easiest week of the year to stock up for pickling or freezing — green beans in particular freeze well raw after a quick blanch, so it’s worth buying extra if you see a good price.

Melons Are Close

Muskmelon and watermelon aren’t quite there yet in most years, but late July is when growers start talking about “another week or two.” Keep an eye on vendors at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market — melons tend to sell out fast once they arrive, since everyone’s been waiting for them since May.

The CSA Boxes Are Worth It This Week

If you’ve been on the fence about whether your CSA share is worth the money, this is the week that answers the question. Late July boxes are typically the fullest and most varied of the season — corn, tomatoes, squash, beans, cucumbers, and herbs all show up in the same box at once.

Get out to the market this week. It doesn’t stay this good forever.