Fall Produce Guide

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Are you ready for fall produce? Technically, the season begins on the autumnal equinox in late September, but emotionally, it starts after Labor Day. Autumn is a great time for food: the last blast of summer veggies, like plump tomatoes, coincides with fall favorites: apples, pears, and all kinds of squashes.

Why is it important to eat seasonally?

1. Enjoy more flavorful fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables that ripen on the stem develop a fuller taste than produce that has been picked early and shipped. Some exceptions are pears and avocados that are picked unripe.
2. Get the maximum amount of vitamins and minerals. Likewise, the nutritional value of produce starts to diminish soon after it is picked. When you eat recently harvested food, you receive the full nutritional benefit of these goodies.
3. Save money. Fresh fruits and vegetables, especially organic ones, can be pricey, but they will always be the least expensive when in season.
4. Reduce your carbon footprint. Pumpkins purchased beside the field where they were grown did not take a ride on an interstate.

Tips for shopping for summer produce

Here are a few ideas to slip into your mental market basket.

1. Visually inspect or if possible, pick up and feel for signs for freshness: You want to avoid anything that has bruises, soft spots, or wrinkled skin. 
2. Check out the websites and/or weekly circulars of your local stores. These can give you a great idea of what’s in season and on sale. Sign up for store alerts if you want.
3. Be flexible in your meal planning and recipe development. If a recipe normally calls for regular potatoes but you can’t find any, can you substitute sweet potatoes? May swap broccoli for cauliflower?

Seasonal Fall Fruits

Of course, your climate will vary but overall, some of the most popular fruits in season for fall include the following. These are all great options for breakfast, a healthy afternoon snack, or a warm fruity dessert in the cool fall months.

• Apples
• Asian Pears
• Bell Peppers (yes, they’re fruit!) As well as varieties like Jalapeno
• Cranberries
• Dates
• Figs
• Grapes
• Persimmons
• Pears
• Pineapples
• Pumpkins

Recipes with seasonal fall fruits

There are so many recipes, both sweet and savory that you can make the fall season fruits. Here are some of my favorites to check out:

• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
• Mini Pumpkin Pies
• Pumpkin Pasta with Crispy Sage
• Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cups
• Easy Apple Crisp
• Cranberry Apple Mini Pies
• Healthy Pumpkin Pancakes
• Homemade Applesauce

Seasonal Fall Vegetables

Here are some of the best vegetables to get during the fall harvest. And whenever you’re in doubt on preparing these vegetables, so many of these can just be roasted in the oven!

• Beets
• Broccoli
• Brussel Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Carrots
• Celery
• Collard Greens
• Endive
• Fennel
• Green Beans, and Long Beans
• Ginger
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Parsnips
• Peas
• Potatoes (Including Sweet Potatoes)
• Radishes
• Spinach
• Turnips
• Winter squash, like Butternut and Acorn – technically fruits but treated like veggies

Recipes with seasonal fall vegetables

So many hearty green vegetables flourish during the fall. These make amazing side dishes, and they can enhance the nutrients in fruit juices or smoothies. If you’re starting to plan out your Thanksgiving meal already, consider using these vegetables to make your sides truly a delight.

• Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
• Tomato Cabbage Soup
• Oven Roasted Carrots
• Green Beans with Almonds
• Kale Tabbouleh Salad
• Baked Kale Chips
• Chicken Lettuce Cups
• Hasselback Sweet Potatoes
• Sweet Potato Toast
• Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip
• Roasted Beets Arugula Tomato Feta Salad
• Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
• Broccoli Pizza Crust
• Oven Roasted Brussel Sprouts
• Fall Harvest Salad

Frequently asked questions

Fall is a great time to experiment with new fruits and vegetables at their peak of flavor. If you are looking for what produce is in season in your region, consult this cool app and website. And don’t forget to check out our other seasonal guides like the Winter Produce Guide,  Spring Produce Guide and Summer Produce Guide . 

Hope you’ve enjoyed this Seasonal Fall Fruits And Vegetables List. Feel free to share it with your friends!  I would love to hear about your experience with seasonal produce – do you try to eat seasonally? If you snapped some shots of seasonal produce and recipes, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!