It’s that time of year when I go over vegetables and fruits that are in season now. Fall is the harvest season, so you can enjoy fresh fall vegetables and fruits in abundance.
In this article, you’ll find:
- 13 fall fruits to enjoy
- 17 fall vegetables to include in your meal planning
- And recipes you can try at home to make seasonal dishes.
Why is it important to eat seasonally?
Before we go over the fall vegetables and fruits, I want to highlight the importance of eating seasonally.
Eating seasonal produce is good for you and the environment because:
- Seasonal produce just tastes better. It has more time to ripen and spend in the sun before being harvested, which gives fruits and vegetables a sweeter and deeper flavor.
- You likely get more nutrients from fall fruits and vegetables. They are fresher and have spent more time in the sun, which promotes nutrient production in the plants.
- You support local farmers when you buy local and seasonal produce instead of imported goods from abroad.
- It’s more environmentally friendly because seasonal local produce is grown and harvested closer to you. This way, the supply chain is shorter, and farmers don’t use as many pesticides to grow seasonal veggies and fruits.
Just a disclaimer: in this list, I chose vegetables and fruits that are in season in fall in the Mediterranean region. Some of them will overlap with the produce you buy in the UK or US.
However, each region, depending on its location, has unique vegetables and fruits in season now. Be sure to visit your local farmer’s market to see what people are selling.
13 fall fruits in season now
- Persimmons are in season in October and remain seasonal until mid-winter.
- Raspberries are in season until mid-fall and longer in some warmer Mediterranean countries.
- Pomegranates are in season the entire autumn. They’re a great source of vitamins and antioxidants, which are necessary as the days get shorter and we spend more time inside.
- Kiwi season will last until the first days of winter.
- Lemons start in October and go strong until the end of winter.
- Mandarins are also in season now.
- Mangoes finish their season in mid-fall.
- Apples start in summer and last until early winter.
- Oranges start in late autumn and last until mid-spring.
- Pears are in season now.
- Bananas are in season almost the entire year.
- Pomelo, also known as shaddock, is in season now. But to be honest, it’s the only fruit I’m not very fond of, and the reason for that is when I first tried it as a kid, I liked pomelo so much I ate too much of it and got sick. To this day, it makes me feel a bit queasy.
- Grapes start in late summer and last until late autumn.
17 fall vegetables in season now
- Artichokes start in mid-fall and last until spring.
- Celery season begins in mid-fall and lasts until the early spring.
- Broccoli is in season now, but available for most of the winter and spring.
- Squash is a staple of the fall harvest, and it’ll remain in season until late fall.
- Pumpkin is another fall staple, and it remains in season until the first days of winter.
- Onions
- Red cabbage
- Cauliflower is also seasonal in fall, but it remains abundant all year.
- Spinach has two peak seasons in spring and fall.
- Peas
- Bell peppers are in season from summer until mid-fall.
- Green beans finish their season in the fall. Try dishes with green beans before the season ends.
- Tomatoes end their season in mid-fall.
- Carrots are in season in early autumn but available more or less year-round.
- Zucchini, like pumpkins, is also in season, but its season ends a bit earlier.
- Mushrooms like chanterelles, porcini, and other wild mushrooms peak in fall.
- Potatoes start in summer but their peak harvest in most countries is in early to mid-fall.
Five fall recipes you can make at home
Rate the list below and leave a comment to let me know if you’ve made any of the fall recipes!
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