Seasonal Produce: Fall Fruits & Vegetables

Fall is here! Seasonal eating is the most flavorful and nutrient-dense way to eat while still conserving money. Here’s a fall produce guide to help you choose and prepare using seasonal food!

It’s that time of year again when the mornings are cooler, the leaves are changing color, and pumpkin spice everything is taking over the planet!

Fall is one of my favorite seasons because of the beautiful colors and the abundance of pumpkins and squash in supermarkets.

I enjoy eating seasonal fruits and veggies since there are many advantages to eating in season: it is healthier, less expensive, and tastes better.

This fall seasonal produce guide will help you know about the in-season vegetables and fruits and provide recipe ideas for using them. So you can eat healthy while saving money!

Fall Seasonal Vegetables

Brussels Sprouts

While you may buy them at any time of year, Brussels sprouts are in season from September to mid-February. They are ideal for the holiday season. Roast them to perfection for a great side dish!

Recipes:

• Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts
• Indian Brussels Sprouts Stir Fry
• Shaved Brussels sprouts Salad – by Fox & Briar
• Chicken & Brussels Sprouts Stir Fry – by Everyday Maven

Cauliflower

Cauliflower is wonderful in soups or roasted to go with proteins, and it’s available all year, although its peak season begins in June and lasts until November. In my opinion, they are a super versatile vegetable and can take on so many distinct flavors.

Recipes:

• Roasted Cauliflower with Cilantro Yogurt Sauce
• Aloo Gobi (Potato & Cauliflower Stir Fry)
• Indian Roasted Potatoes & Cauliflower
• Instant Pot Steamed Cauliflower
• Vegan Cauliflower Soup
• Air Fryer Tandoori Gobi

Artichokes

Artichokes are usually available all year but better during the peak season. They are high in nutrients and very low in calories. They are good for liver health and can soothe digestion.

Recipes:

• Spinach Artichoke Lasagna
• Instant Pot Artichokes – by Simply Happy Foodie
• Mediterranean Roasted Artichokes – by The Mediterranean Dish

Celery

Celery is generally available all year. It features tall, light green stalks with a crisp texture. It’s also a good source of vitamins and minerals.

Recipes:

• Tomato Soup with Celery
• Mushroom Wild Rice Soup
• Minestrone Soup

Parsnips

Although parsnips are available all year in most stores, the best time to buy them is in the fall and winter, when the cold and frost bring out their sweetness. The flavor of parsnips is unique. They have a carrot-like sweetness with an earthy nuttiness.

Recipes:

• Easy Roasted Parsnips by Cubes n Juliennes
• Mashed Parsnip by Flavor the Moments
• Easy Parsnip & Carrot Bake by Full of Plants

Pumpkin

Pumpkin season begins in mid-September and continues through October and November. Pumpkins are high in vitamins A and C, fiber, potassium, and antioxidants.

Recipes:

• Roasted Pumpkin Soup
• Pumpkin Feta Salad
• Air Fryer Pumpkin
• Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds
• Easy Instant Pot Pumpkin Puree
• Almond Flour Pumpkin Muffins
• Pumpkin Curry
• Coconut Pumpkin Halwa
• Healthy Whole Wheat Pumpkin Oatmeal muffins
• Thai Pumpkin Red Curry
• Pumpkin Carrot Soup
• Pumpkin Rice
• Pumpkin Chicken Curry

Rutabaga

Rutabagas are in season in the late fall and winter, and they are at their best during that time. They have orange-yellow flesh and are yellowish and brown on the outside.

Recipes:

• Roasted rutabaga with rosemary and onions by Low Carb Maven
• Mashed Rutabaga with Sour Cream and Dill by Simply Recipes

Bell Peppers

Bell pepper, like other veggies, is accessible all year. However, July through November is the best time to eat them when they are crisp and juicy. Bell peppers are high in vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium.

Recipes:

• Bell Peppers & Potato Stir Fry
• Roasted Red Pepper and Carrot Soup
• Paneer Jalfrezi
• Kung Pao Tofu

Sweet Potatoes

Although sweet potatoes keep well and are accessible throughout the year, the fresh harvest arrives in the fall. The flavor of sweet potatoes is moderate, starchy, and sweet.

Recipes:

• Instant Pot Sweet Potato Soup
• Air Fryer Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• How to Cook Sweet Potatoes in Instant Pot
• Vegan Sweet Potato Quinoa Buddha Bowl

Beets

Fresh beets have a great earthy flavor, meaty texture, and color. Beets are in season in temperate climates fall through spring. They can be enjoyed fresh, cooked or roasted. We have been trying to include beets as a side to get the extra nutrition!

Recipes:

• Beet Rice Pilaf
• Air Fryer Roasted Beets
• Beet & Mozzarella Salad
• Instant Pot Beets

Butternut Squash

Butternut squash is available all year, but it is at its peak from early fall through early winter. Choose squash that feels weighty for its size; one with a fat neck and a small bulb will have the smallest seed cavity and the most meat.

Recipes:

• Butternut Squash Curry
• Thai Curried Butternut Squash
• Vegan Chickpea Squash Fritters

Mini Sweet Peppers

The sweet pepper growing season is optimum from July to November when they are crunchy, juicy, and full of flavor. They are super sweet and super tiny, and are available in various colors – red, orange, yellow, and green. They are also a great source of Vitamin C.

Recipes:

• Roasted mini sweet peppers by Healthy Recipes
• 3-Ingredient Mini Stuffed Peppers Recipe by A Spicy Perspective

Fall Seasonal Fruits

Cranberries

Around mid-October, you should start seeing fresh cranberries in the grocery store. Because the season for cranberries is so brief, buy them and enjoy them while they last.

Recipes:

• Cranberry Chutney
• Naturally Sweetened Cranberry Sauce by Cookie + Kate
• Brie Bites by Wellplated
• Orange Glazed Cranberry Bread by Sally’s Baking Addiction

Apples

The most popular crunchy bright colored fruits, Apples, are available all year, but their best season is in the fall and early winter. There are many varieties of apples, and they are all rich in fiber and flavonoids.

Recipes:

• 4 Ingredient Instant Pot Applesauce
• Fruit Salad
• Classic Apple Crisp by Sally’s Baking Addiction
• Easy Apple Cobbler by A Cozy Kitchen
• Healthy Apple Salad with Raisins and Walnuts by Foolproof Living

Figs

Late summer to early fall is the best time of the year when you will see figs in stores. This mild, sweet fruit is low in calories and has no fat. Figs are one of the richest plant sources of a variety of vitamins and minerals.

Recipes:

• Fig Banana Smoothie
• Fresh Fig Smoothie with Dates & Almond Butter

Pears

Pears are in season from the fall to the winter. They’re not only refreshing, but they’re also healthy and filling. There are many varieties of pears – you can varieties with a crunchy or a soft peel, sweet flesh or a lemony flesh.

Recipes:

• Baked pears with walnuts and honey by Skinny Taste
• Autumn Pear Salad with Candied Walnuts and Balsamic Vinaigrette by Cooking Classy
• Cinnamon Walnut Pear Crisp by Ambitious Kitchen

Persimmon

Persimmons are in season from September to December and are likely to be available at your local farmer’s market at this time. Ripe persimmons can be light yellow to dark red-orange in color. They have a mild, sweet taste. It is best to eat them only when they are ripe, as unripe persimmons have a high amount of tannins.

Recipes:

• Persimmon Salad by What’s Gaby Cooking
• Persimmon Bread & Baking with Persimmons by Proportional plate

I hope this fall produce guide helps you eat more seasonally. I would love to hear about your favorite fall foods, and if your favorite vegetable or fruit did not make the list, do share in the comments! 

Check Out More Seasonal Guides

• Spring Seasonal Produce Guide
• Winter Seasonal Produce Guide
• Summer Fruits & Vegetables