How to Eat Seasonally: Fall

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pear, apple, and cherries on the kitchen counterFall is upon us, and it’s harvest season! This is one of our favorite times of the year. You’ll find us picking (and eating!) apples, pears, peaches, and even some late season cherries!

We want to help you enjoy the bounty of the season with us. Keep in mind that eating seasonally will mean something different depending on where you live, but in the case of Stemilt fall fruits, you can find them anywhere in the Continental US this time of year.

The Benefits of Eating Seasonally in Fall

We often hear people talk about eating seasonally in fall, and we know it’s something we should strive to do more… but do we know why? Let’s talk about it!

1. The fruit will taste better

When you eat fruit near its peak season, that means it will be fresher and won’t have had to have been stored for months on end. When it’s fresher, it’s juicier and more flavorful!

2. In season food will be more affordable

Since this food doesn’t need to be imported from far away, suppliers are able to sell it at a lower cost. More money to keep in your pocket!

3. Less environmental impact

Again, since this food doesn’t need to be flown in from far away countries, you don’t have to worry about the footprint of the contents of your fridge!

What fruit is in season in the fall? apple harvest

There are so many fruits and veggies in season in the fall! Here are some of our favorite fruits and a better idea of when you’ll see them in stores:

  • Apples: late summer through late fall
  • Stemilt Moon Cherries: late summer through early fall
  • Figs: late fall
  • Grapes: late summer through early fall
  • Peaches: early summer through early fall
  • Pears: throughout fall
  • Persimmons: late fall

Tips for Storing Your Fall Fruit

In order to make the most of your in season fruit, make sure that you’re storing it properly so it will last as long as possible. Every fruit is stored a little differently. Here are some tips to make sure you get some mileage out of each!

Apples Pears Mixed Basket Stemilt 7

Apples 

If you plan to eat your apples quickly, you can store them whole on the counter at room temperature for up to a week. Place them in an area that isn’t exposed to sun and doesn’t get too warm.

If you want to extend the life of your apples longer, you can put them in the crisper drawer in your fridge for up to 6 weeks.

If you’ve sliced an apple and won’t be eating it right away, toss it in a squeeze of lemon juice and store it in the fridge.

Cherries

Our Moon Cherries are one of the few cherries you can still find in the late summer or early fall. They are so juicy and delicious! To make them last as long as possible, rinse them when you get them home from the grocery store, then return them to the container they came in, a zipper top plastic bag, or a glass storage container with a paper towel to absorb moisture. Then pop them in the fridge and the cherries will last up to two weeks!

Peaches

Peaches are a delicate fruit and they can turn quickly, so it’s important to store them properly. If they are under ripe, store them on the counter at room temperature until they’ve ripened. Once ripe, place the peaches in the fridge away from other fruit to store. They’ll last a few days, up to a week, in the refrigerator.

Pears

You can ripen pears by putting them in a brown paper bag with other pears. Once ripened, the pears should be stored in the fridge, where they will last a few more days.

Pears produce ethylene, so don’t store them near any other fruits and vegetables. However, if you have a pesky under ripe avocado or banana, storing them with a pear will help them ripen faster! We love this trick.

Cooking seasonally with applesHow to Incorporate Fruit into Every Meal

Okay, you’ve got your in season fruit and even better, you now know how to store it! But… what should you do with it and how will you make sure you eat it all? A great question. Here are some of our favorite ways to incorporate fruit into our meals.

  1. Just eat it as is! As tempting as it is to make something elaborate with your fall haul, fruit is delicious, plain and simple. Eat a bowl alongside your normal breakfast, lunch, snack, or dinner!
  2. Add it to a smoothie. Smoothies are some of our favorite breakfasts and snacks and you can make some really fun smoothies with flavors to compliment your fall fruits like vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger.
  3. Add it to baked goods. Make a big batch of muffins, a loaf cake, pie, and so much more to enjoy as breakfast, a snack, or dessert. Your whole household will be glad you did.
  4. Use fruit as a salad topper. All of these fall fruits are delicious sliced up and added to a salad.
  5. Make a fruit salsa. I love to top grilled proteins like chicken and fish with fruit salsas for a fresh, delicious meal!

Pumpkin Pear Bread

You really can’t go wrong when it comes to fruit. It’s always going to be delicious, whether eaten by itself or added to a recipe. And there are tons of great recipes on stemilt.com!

Which fall fruit are you most excited about and how do you plan to use it?

 

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