When cooking, the best thing you can do is opt for seasonal produce. Sure, you can get certain items flown in from other regions, but it’s best to take what’s local and fresh. It forces you to get more creative in the kitchen too.

Try your favorite casseroles and stews using seasonal fall vegetables. Make your desserts fresher with seasonal fall fruits. Here are some of the best seasonal fall fruits and veggies to put in your basket.

Apples

Another reason to love fall is because it’s apple season. You can do so much with them, even using them as a substitute for other ingredients in baking to slash calories without cutting out flavor.

Beets

This root vegetable is a wonderful way to add color to your meals. A spinach salad topped with beets, goat cheese, and walnuts is a beautiful way to put this one on your holiday table.

Brussels sprouts

Your kids might not be happy about it but now is the season for Brussels sprouts. Make sure you trim the ends though so they aren’t so bitter.

Cranberries
Cranberries are great for making into sauce. Don’t buy that canned gunk! It’s super easy to do yourself!

Eggplant

Want a soothing fall dinner that’s seasonal and vegetarian? Turn to eggplant parmigiana. Or if you need a great dip, make baba ghanoush for your next holiday party.

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme

Sing it all you want, but fall is the best time of year to get bunches of these fresh herbs. You can preserve them in your freezer in some extra virgin olive oil so that you can pull them out as needed any time during the year. 

Pumpkins

Of course it’s pumpkin season! If you only carve pumpkins up into jack-o-lanterns though, you’re missing out. The seeds are great for roasting and the tender flesh is ideal for soups and stews. Don’t forget pumpkin pie. Making your own puree fresh is so much better than the canned goop at the supermarket.

Pears

Apples and pumpkins get all the love in fall, but don’t forget about pears. Naturally sweet and juicy, they’re great on salads and sublime served poached for dessert.

Winter Squash

With the pumpkin spice craze, most people forget about the other squash that are available in fall. Now is the time to grab butternut and spaghetti squash and turn them into dazzling dishes that are hearty enough to fill you up without filling you out.

With so many deliciously fresh fall produce options, you’ll be able to find some creative ways to use them. Before you know it, the other seasonal produce will be upon us so take advantage of what’s fresh now and enjoy it!