Tips for buying seasonal produce at the farmers market during September!

September marks the slow shift from summer into the fall season. The nights are getting cooler, the leaves are just starting to change, and soon our bellies will be full of squash, pumpkins, leafy greens, and a fall favorite: apples! 

So while we still can, let's enjoy the early fall fruits and vegetables available at the farmers market! As you walk around the market you’ll still find plenty of tomatoes, a summer staple, sweet corn, and many varieties of  peppers. Some new additions may be onions, potatoes, and one of my favorites, sweet potatoes!  

What's in Season in September?

• Apples

• Brussels sprouts

• Beets

• Cranberries 

• Cantaulope

• Cabbage

• Carrots 

• Cucumbers 

• Eggplant

• Garlic

• Grapes

• Green Beans

• Kale 

• Okra

• Pears

• Parsnips 

• Potatoes 

• Raspberries 

• Spinach

• Sweet Corn

• Sweet Potatoes 

• Squash 

• Tomatoes 

• Leeks

• Peppers 

Shopping seasonally can be a great way to get the freshest, most nutritious fruits and vegetables possible. It also decreases your environmental impact, and supports local farmers in New Jersey. Every month different produce is available at farmers markets and farm stands across the state depending on the time of year and the weather. You can find out what’s growing by checking out the Jersey Fresh website and click “What’s available in New Jersey”. This guide lets you know what crops are being planted, and which ones are at their peak availability. Checking this guide throughout the year will help you figure out what may be at the market for what meals you can make that week! 

Click the link to check out the seasonality guide 

If you have SNAP and shop at an eligible market, you will get double the produce with Good Food Bucks. There are so many ways to store and cook your fresh fruits and vegetables to get the most out of your fresh produce hauls! Below are some recipes that use the fruits and vegetables you may see at the farmers market this month!

Recipes 

Salads

15-Minute Fresh Corn & Tomato Salad - The Clever Carrot

• Corn Tomatoes and Basil Leaves 

• Add cucumber and any peppers for an extra spice 

Tomato Sweet Corn Salad • The Curious Chickpea

• Heirloom tomatoes, red onions, sweet corn

• Cotija cheese or parm cheese 

One Pot or One Pan Dinners 

Pasta with Roasted Corn and Tomatoes - Vintage Kitchen Notes

One-Pot Orzo with Tomatoes and Corn

30-Minute Sesame Chicken Green Bean Stir Fry | Ambitious Kitchen

Veggie Dishes 

Vegetarian Stuffed Eggplant (Easy Mediterranean Recipe)

Vegan Crispy Firecracker Brussels Sprouts - Rabbit and Wolves

Roasted Leeks with Olive Oil and Parmesan - Healthy Recipes Blog

Saving Produce for the winter months

Freeze your tomatoes!

You can freeze whole summer tomatoes and use them throughout the winter. When you thaw them, the skin peels right off and you can enjoy fresh tomatoes all winter long.

If you want to know where you can buy locally grown September produce check out our list of Good Food Bucks partners that is organized by county!