Seasonal Is Better
And better for you. Yes, you can have strawberries all year round, but they are much better and actually special when you wait for the first local crop to show up at the farmer’s market. They’ll taste better and be better, because they will get to grow locally and ripen in the sun, to be picked only hours before you bring them home. That’s food that is good, seasonal, and sustainable.
Seasonal Fruits
September approaches, and it’s still a time of lots of fresh, juicy fruit. Here is what you can expect to see available in September: raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, plums, apples, and pears should all be available and fresh. Look for them to be marked down at your local grocery store, or check for them at the farmer’s market. Look for a pick-your-own farm in the area and plan an apple picking expedition. Come home and make apple pies.
Seasonal Vegetables
Seasonal vegetables you might find in your area during September: cabbage, onion, leeks, carrots, parsnips, turnips, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, potatoes, spinach, celery, runner beans, pumpkin, and squash. You’ll probably still be able to find late-season tomatoes and sweet corn in some areas, as well. You might also see some of the cool spring weather crops pop up again during the fall harvest: artichoke, peas, and fresh greens.
Finding Local Sources
Call your local Chamber of Commerce and ask about farmer’s market. If there aren’t any in your area, then ask about farmers. Even in urban areas, you might not be that far from a few farms, and most of the time they will sell directly to anyone interested enough to come asking. Ask the produce manager at your local grocery store for sources. If you’re in a downtown, larger urban area, chances are there’s a big farmer’s market or wholesale produce seller nearby. Look in the yellow pages, or call a restaurant you know that makes use of fresh, local produce and ask where they shop.
Eat It, Munch It, Cook It
Here is a list of ideas to get you started using all that very fine, very fresh produce you’ll be picking up.
Raspberry mango smoothie
Raspberry puree over homemade ice cream
Blackberry cobbler or pie
Fresh plums and good cheese make a great dessert
Apple pie, of course, and apple strudel, apple bread, apple dumplings, apples slices and peanut butter for a quick, filling snack, caramelized apples over shortbread or ice cream, chopped apples in chicken salad, thin apple slices on a ham sandwich
Fresh, juicy pears for a snack, or roasted and glazed for an elegant dessert
Homemade cole slaw with that seasonal cabbage
Stir fry with onion, cauliflower, and parsnips
Hearty potato and leek soup
Balsamic-glazed, roasted carrots and turnips
A fresh spinach salad with strawberries
Squash layered with fresh basil and parmesan and baked until tender
Pasta sauce made out of fresh tomatoes, or a simple fresh tomato soup, or a crunch, tangy gazpacho
Corn and black bean salad
Fresh steamed artichokes with lemony butter, or sliced, dusted with breadcrumbs, garlic, and olive oil, and baked until tender
Fresh, tender peas lightly steamed and tossed with diced mint
Image Credit: Svadilfari.
[...] Seasonal Eats for September [...]