At any point during the year, most supermarkets carry dozens of different fruits—even those that aren’t in season. Though you can get a wide variety of fruits all year long, buying in-season produce can make a difference. In-season fruits are generally at peak ripeness and optimal nutrition, so they taste better and they’re better for you. They’re also usually more economical, which can help keep your grocery bill low. So, what fruits are in season in the fall? Below you’ll find the best seasonal fruits available between September and November—and what to make with them.
Apples
Apple picking with the family is a fall activity because that’s when apples are in season, though you can technically get them year round. Apple season typically runs until the end of October, so don’t wait too long before picking them by the bucket load. You’ll need several pounds of fresh apples for quintessential fall recipes like apple crisp, apple cider, and apple stuffing.
Cranberries
Greg Dupree
There’s a reason why cranberry sauce is on just about every holiday dinner table—cranberries are in season from September through November. While you can get your hands on canned or frozen cranberries throughout the year, fresh cranberries are hard to come by outside of the fall season. Score a few bags this fall for homemade cranberry sauce, as well as festive drinks like a cranberry-lemon spritz.
Kiwis
You might not expect kiwis on this list because they give off tropical summer vibes, but they’re technically fall fruits. Kiwi season typically starts in October or November, and continues through the early winter months. If you love coastal holiday decor, you can eat kiwis all fall long with recipes for fruit salad and sweet relish.
Pears
There are thousands of pear varieties, but you’re most likely to come across bosc and Bartlett pears in early fall. If you haven’t been impressed by pears before, maybe you haven’t tried some picked at peak ripeness. Grab some this fall to top on oatmeal, incorporate into baked goods like pie, or snack on by themselves.
Figs
Jen Causey
Figs technically aren’t fruits—they’re clusters of flowers. But they’re often treated like fruits because they’re sweet. Fig season runs through early fall, so if you missed their summer season, there’s still a chance. Commonly used in jam and tarts, figs also have a tendency to balance out savory foods like charcuterie. This grain bowl recipe calls for dried figs to complement thick slices of Halloumi cheese.
Pomegranates
Pomegranate season peaks in fall, so if you live in a place that doesn’t carry this juicy fruit all year long, you’ll want to dart to the supermarket once you feel a slight chill in the air. Known for their high antioxidant content, pomegranates are a nutritious and beneficial fruit. Pop them open and scoop out the arils (aka the crunchy seeds inside) to use them in this autumnal salad or a fruity punch.
Pumpkins
Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Pumpkin is the star of sweet recipes like pies, cheesecakes, and lattes, though it’s commonly mistaken for a vegetable. Since pumpkins have seeds in the middle, they’re technically a fruit. Place these vibrant gourds on your porch, but not before you get a chance to roast the seeds. You can also use fresh or canned pumpkin in pumpkin bread, baked oatmeal, and classic pumpkin pie.
Grapes
Fred Hardy
Grapes are one of those fruits you can get any time, but there’s a reason why they’re best between August and October. This is when they’re generally at their peak, though some varieties of grapes are harvested even deeper into fall. Grapes aren’t as versatile as other fruits—you can mainly snack on fresh grapes, freeze them, or add them to fruit smoothies. However, some people like to add grapes to chicken salad or a savory chicken dinner.
Persimmons
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
You may have enjoyed persimmons in baked goods like breads and tarts, but if you’ve never seen a persimmon, they look like blood-orange tomatoes. Persimmon season starts in late fall and runs through February. They continue to ripen on your counter, so if you get a batch of firm persimmons, they just need a few days to soften. And when they do, you can turn them into persimmon breads or spiced mocktails.
Clementines
Victor Protasio
Lots of citrus fruits are in season in fall, including lemons and limes, though you can get those year round. You may also be able to get a type of mandarin oranges called clementines (aka Cuties) throughout the year, but they’re best in mid-late fall. Clementines make for the perfect portable snack, but you can use them like you would other citrus fruits—juice them, use them in sauces, or bake them in cakes.
Butternut Squash
Like pumpkin, butternut squash is treated like a vegetable, but it’s actually a fruit because it contains seeds. The best time to buy butternut squash is right at the cusp of summer and fall. You can use butternut squash similar to how you’d use sweet potatoes, but because their sweetness caramelizes when roasted, you can’t go wrong with roasted butternut squash or a warm soup made from overcooking them.
Dates
Victor Protasio
Dates grow on date palm trees, which are native to the deserts in the Middle East. Thanks to their popularity, you can get them all over, though they’re best when they’re in season during the fall months. Just be sure to remove the pit before using dates to make sweet recipes and desserts like date bars or truffles.
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