October is pumpkin mania. Pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pie, and pumpkin decorations are seemingly everywhere right now. If it wasn’t obvious, pumpkins are in season.
Beyond North America’s favorite spooky squash, October is a major harvest season for many vegetables.
Winter squash come into season, including acorn squash, butternut squash, kabocha squash, and spaghetti squash. Make this creamy butternut squash soup on a crisp day (it is a gorgeous orange color, fit for any fall festivities).
Other vegetables that are in season right now include beets, bok choy, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cardoons, cauliflower, celery, celery root, chard, chicories, chives, collard greens, eggplant, endives, fennel, garlic, horseradish, kale, leeks, lima beans, mushrooms, mustard greens, parsnips, rapini, radicchio, rutabaga, sprouts, and turnips.
Many fruits are now out of season, but apples are still here! Before apple season is over, be sure to grab some fresh apples for an apple pie or an apple crumble. Better yet, sip on some fresh pressed apple cider (delicious hot or cold).
Early in the month, quince — a fruit similar to pears but more sweetly floral — comes into season. Quince is great for making jellies, jams, and quince paste. Quince paste is a secret standout when added to a cheese board, bringing some of the sweetness that a fig jam would but with slightly fruitier flavors. Many have described it as similar to guava pasta. Sometimes, when the paste is rolled in sugar, it is served as a sweet treat.
Raspberry bushes will stay fruitful until the first frost — the first day below 32° F. After that point, their season will be over. Similarly, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, lima beans, peppers, radishes, string beans, and summer squash will end with the first frost. The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts typical fall temperatures for September and October, so hopefully, these fruits and vegetables will stay around a bit longer.
Maple is a common fall flavor and many greenmarket sellers offer fresh maple syrup. Use maple syrup to sweeten your coffee, top your pancakes, or add a more complex sugar to your baked goods!
As always, meat, dairy, fish, honey, and bread are available year-round at greenmarkets.
To find a greenmarket near you in Brooklyn, go to GrowNYC.com or JustFood.com.
