Washington Seasonal Fruit & Vegetables in September
Your Harvest Guide
This Article is Part of our Washington Seasonal Fruit & Veg Calendar
September in Washington presents a bounty of seasonal fruits and vegetables, offering fresh and flavorful options for culinary enthusiasts and health-conscious consumers alike. As summer comes to a close, the state's diverse agricultural landscape yields a variety of produce. Farmers and gardeners harvest an array of fruits such as blueberries, which have ripened to perfection from June through September, and pears, which become readily available towards the end of the summer months.
Vegetables, too, flourish in Washington's September climate. The selection includes staple crops like broccoli and carrots, which have been growing since June and continue through to January and February, ensuring a long season of availability. The cooler temperatures also support crops like Brussels sprouts (how long do brussels sprouts last?)and cauliflower (how long does cauliflower last?), typically harvested starting in September. Meanwhile, root vegetables like celeriac, known also as celery root, enter their prime, harvested from August through November.
The array of September produce in Washington not only underscores the region's rich agricultural offerings but also prompts a shift toward more autumnal flavors in local cuisine. With such an extensive variety of produce reaching its peak, September is an opportune time for Washington residents and visitors to explore and enjoy the state's fresh and nutritious seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Understanding Seasonality in Washington
Seasonality dictates the availability of fruits and vegetables throughout the year. In Washington, the transition to fall brings about a shift in crop production, capitalizing on the state's varied climate to produce a bounty of agricultural products.
Seasonal Shifts and Harvest Times
In Washington, September marks the time when summer's abundance gives way to fall's harvest. Seasonal shifts are significant for farmers as they plan their crop rotations, and for consumers who enjoy fresh, locally-grown produce. As the calendar progresses, the offerings at farmers' markets and grocery stores reflect these changes.
Fall Beginnings: The start of fall sees the peak and tail-end of many fruits and vegetables.
Year-Round Planning: Washington agriculture operations plan year-round to ensure a steady supply of some produce beyond their peak seasons, through storage or controlled growing environments.
In Season in September for Washington includes a variety of produce:
Fruits: Apples, pears, and plums
Vegetables: Carrots, onions, and Brussels sprouts
Washington's September Climate and Agriculture
Washington's climate in September supports a rich agricultural landscape. Ranging from coastal areas to inland plains and mountains, the climate influences what and when things are grown and harvested.
Typical Climate:
Mild to warm days
Cooler nights
Reducing daylight hours
The transition towards cooler days and nights allows for an array of produce to thrive:
Fruits: Grape harvest begins, and berry varieties wind down.
Vegetables: Leafy greens and squashes gain prominence.
Agricultural practices adapt to these conditions, ensuring optimally timed harvests that contribute to the diverse offerings available from Washington farms during this period.
Key Seasonal Produce for September
September in Washington welcomes a bountiful harvest. This month showcases the final flourish of summer produce alongside early fall favorites, making it a unique time for fruits and vegetables at their peak freshness and flavor.
Fruits in Their Prime
Apples: September signals the prime time for apples, with many varieties reaching optimal sweetness. Berries: While the berry season is winding down, some like raspberries may still be found fresh and flavorful.
Vegetables Reaching Peak Harvest
Tomatoes: Store shelves and farmers' markets are vibrant with a variety of tomatoes, succulent and ripe. Squash: Both summer squash and the beginnings of winter varieties like butternut and acorn squash start to make an appearance. Beans: They remain a staple, with varieties such as green beans being particularly tender. Corn: Sweet corn continues to be abundant, perfect for grilling or adding to salads. Eggplant (What wine goes well with eggplant?): This versatile vegetable is also among the produce that is best in September, offering a rich, earthy flavor.
Fruit Highlights of September
In September, Washington shines with an array of seasonal fruits. This month is characterized by the final flourish of summer berries, the ripening of stone fruits, and the introduction of early fall apple varieties.
Berry Varieties and Availability
September is the tail end of the season for blackberries and raspberries, with availability decreasing as the month progresses. Consumers can still enjoy these berries, which are often at their sweetest just before the season concludes.
Blackberries: Available until early September
Raspberries: Limited availability, check local farms
Stone Fruits and Late Summer Harvests
Stone fruits such as peaches and plums reach peak maturity in September. Their sweetness is at its zenith, and their juicy flesh makes them ideal for fresh consumption or in desserts.
Peaches: Prime availability in early September
Plums: Varieties peak throughout September
Apples and the Early Fall Selection
As summer transitions into fall, apples become a definitive fruit of the season. Early varieties like Gala and Honeycrisp become available in orchards, offering crisp texture and a blend of sweet and tart flavors.
Apples: Early varieties start in early September
Pears: Begin to appear, with varieties like Bartlett and Anjou
Vegetable Highlights of September
As the summer heat begins to wane, September in Washington introduces a robust palette of vegetables. Root vegetables and tubers gain sweetness, leafy greens thrive in the cooler weather, and a variety of other vegetables, including nightshades, reach their peak before the frost.
Root Vegetables and Tubers
In the chill of early fall, root vegetables like beets and carrots flourish, offering deep, earthy flavors and a plethora of nutrients. Beets, noted for their rich magenta hue, are tender and sweet, perfect for roasting or adding color to salads. Carrots also enjoy the September soil, growing crisper and sweeter, ideal for both raw snacking and hearty stews.
Garlic and onions, essential for flavor foundations in cooking, are harvested with pungent aromas and full-bodied tastes, storing well for use throughout the year.
Potatoes present in a variety of species, diversifying from waxy to starchy textures, suited for baking, mashing, and frying.
Sweet potatoes begin their season, offering a creamy texture and a sweet-spicy flavor, a complement to both savory and sweet dishes.
Leafy Greens and Salad Ingredients
Cooler temperatures encourage the growth of leafy greens, such as kale, lettuce, and chard, all of which are tender and flavorful during this time.
Kale retains its hearty texture and gains a slightly sweeter taste after the first frost.
Varieties of lettuce are ample, providing crisp, fresh bases for autumn salads.
Chard offers bright, colorful stems and deep green leaves, dual-serving as a visual enhancer and a nutrient-rich component for meals.
Nightshades and Other Vegetables
The tail end of summer warmth supports the ripening of nightshades like eggplant (What wine goes well with eggplant?), peppers, and tomatillos – all emblematic of the season's end.
Eggplant appears in glossy purples and bulbous shapes, retaining a spongy texture that absorbs flavors well during cooking.
A spectrum of peppers ranges from sweet to hot, filling gardens and markets, perfect for a variety of culinary uses, from fresh salsas (how long do fresh salsas last?) to roasted dishes (What wine goes well with roasted dishes?).
Tomatillos, with their paper-like husks, offer a tangy flavor that is a staple in Mexican cuisine, ready for harvest and use in sauces and stews.
Preparation and Storage Tips
Proper handling and storage of Washington's seasonal fruits and vegetables in September ensure maximum freshness and flavor. These tips will help readers make the most of the local harvest, preserving its quality from the market to the table.
Handling and Storing Fresh Produce
When dealing with fresh produce such as apples and cauliflower, gentle handling is key to prevent bruising. Storage varies by type:
Apples: Store in a cool, dark place or in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. To prevent ethylene gas from speeding up the ripening of other produce, keep them separate.
Cauliflower: Wrap loosely in a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator's crisper drawer. Use within a week.
Preservation methods for the seasonal harvest include:
Applesauce: Prepare applesauce and can it for long-term storage.
Soups and Salads: Blanch vegetables like chard and celery before freezing to retain texture for future soups or stir-fries. Raw salads should be prepared fresh, with any cut vegetables kept in cold water to maintain crispness until serving.
Cooking Ideas for Seasonal Harvest
Cooking with September's seasonal produce from Washington provides versatility in recipes:
Raw: Incorporate crisp, fresh-cut bell peppers into salads or serve alongside a hummus dip.
Cooking: Utilize ripe tomatoes in soups or sauces, and roast or stir-fry chard for a nutrient-rich side dish.
Finish dishes with herbs like basil for a burst of late-summer flavor. Utilize these methods to relish the seasonal abundance in Washington.
Finding Fresh Produce in Washington
September in Washington State beckons with an abundance of fresh produce, waiting to be discovered. Enthusiasts eager to experience the freshest local varieties can explore a myriad of venues, from bustling local markets to serene farm stands and engaging u-pick farms.
Local Markets and Farm Stands
Markets and farm stands in Washington are prime resources for local fruits and vegetables. One can often find the day's ripest produce displayed amid an inviting array of Washington's seasonal best. Here, local farmers present their harvest, providing an excellent opportunity for consumers to engage with the very people who grow their food.
Popular finds in Washington Markets during September include:
Apples
Pears
Grapes
Plums
Squashes
Pumpkins
Each market often showcases special varieties unique to the region, sustaining local agriculture and fostering community connections.
U-Pick Farms and Family Activities
For a more hands-on approach, u-pick farms across Washington State offer a fun family activity with the bonus of picking the freshest fruits and vegetables directly from the source. The u-pick experience tends to vary with the available crops, but September promises a luscious selection of bumper crops ripe for picking.
U-pick farms may feature activities such as:
Seasonal festivals
Hayrides
Corn mazes
These farms not only provide a way to gather the freshest produce but also impart a greater understanding of the farm-to-table process, enriching the appreciation for Washington's agricultural diversity.
Supporting Local Agriculture
Supporting local agriculture in Washington State during September, consumers participate in a sustainable economy and foster a sense of community. These actions contribute to the conservation of local farmland and a reduction in the carbon footprint associated with long-distance transportation of produce.
The Benefits of Buying Local
When consumers choose to buy local produce, they are making a decision that has profound impacts on the local economy and environment. Local purchases keep money within the community, bolstering the economic stability of local farmers and their workers. Sustainable farming practices often employed by small-scale local farmers lead to fresher, more environmentally sound produce options for consumers.
In Washington State, September offers an abundance of seasonally-grown fruits and vegetables, including crisp apples, pears, and hearty root vegetables. These items travel a shorter distance to reach consumers, often arriving fresher and retaining higher nutritional value.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Community Supported Agriculture, commonly known as CSA, is a model where consumers buy shares of a farm's harvest in advance. Washington State hosts a variety of CSA programs where members receive a portion of seasonal produce throughout the farming season, which typically includes the month of September.
Membership Benefits:
Shared Risk and Reward: Both farmers and consumers share in the bounty and the risks of farming, such as poor harvests due to adverse weather conditions.
Direct Support: Farmers receive direct financial support from CSA members, ensuring a reliable market for their produce.
Freshness: CSA members enjoy some of the freshest produce available, as shares are often harvested within days of distribution.
CSA Example in Washington:
Contents: A typical share may include a variety of vegetables and fruits, with options like sweet corn, potatoes, and green peas available in September.
Cost: Shared costs will vary; a full share covering 20 weeks could cost around $600.
Distribution: Methods include neighborhood drop points and on-farm pick-up, catering to different community needs.
By engaging in CSA programs, members directly support local agricultural efforts, promote sustainable practices, and contribute to the resilience of Washington State's local food systems.
