-What’s in Season in October?

What’s in season?

October

Fruits & Vegetables

Don’t you just love sweater weather! Time to bundle up and make some delicious warm, comfort foods.

Do you have a favourite?

I love soups and the tasty breads or biscuits that go with them! And then there’s Spaghetti Squash Mac & Cheese or the more traditional Ham and Peas Mac & Cheese, soups, stews and chilis of all kinds. Guess we’ll have plenty of time over the next few months to enjoy them all!

Of course, Canadian Thanksgiving and Halloween are important October events as well. Be sure to check out my new Guide to Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner and for your pumpkin carving check out How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds and Making Homemade Pumpkin Puree.

Enjoy the fall colours and changing scenery – it may be hard to say goodbye to summer, but there are good things ahead!

  • Find the freshest tasting produce
  • Get the most affordable produce
  • Reduce your environmental footprint
  • Get instant variety by eating seasonally

Use this list for meal planning and making grocery lists.

Supplement this list with frozen and canned fruits and veggies to keep costs down. Of course, you can add whatever fresh produce you’d like. I often add other fresh produce that comes from as close to home as possible. For example there are more local greenhouses that sustainably grow tomatoes, sweet peppers, cucumbers, fresh herbs, lettuce and micro-greens. And, on special occasions, I also reach for exotic fruits and veggies from around the world. What a treat!

Helpful Tips

How to Store October Fruits & Vegetables

  • Did you know pears ripen from the inside out? That’s why skin colour isn’t the best way to judge if a pear is ripe. Gently press the stem end of the pear to see if it is soft and ripe.
  • If you have more fresh cranberries than you can use, freeze them as is and store in an airtight bag for months. Fresh or frozen cranberries are pretty much interchangeable in most recipes.
  • Apples and pears will last longer when stored in the fridge but they’ll taste sweeter at room temperature. Keep a few in a fruit basket or take out of fridge 30 minutes before eating.
  • When buying Brussels sprouts look for green, firm and compact heads that are heavy for their size. Smaller sprouts are often sweeter than bigger ones.
  • Turnips and rutabagas are hardy root vegetables that can be stored for many weeks in cold storage. Rutabagas have rougher skin and are bigger, but taste milder than turnips.
  • If your garden veggies got hit by frost before harvest, watch them carefully in storage, they may not last as long compared to veggies harvested before frost.
Ultimate Meal Plan Pack Full Year cover

Meal Inspiration for ANY season!

The Ultimate Meal Plan Pack

Take the guesswork & decision making out of dinner!

24 weeks, 160+ recipes, 50+ pages

  • List of seasonal fruits & vegetables
  • Storage info & tips for seasonal produce
  • 42 meals per season
  • DIY meal plan help
  • 160+ yummy recipes

This ebook is available in full year or individual season formats.