Here's What's in Season in November with a seasonal produce list you can use as a quick reference guide when you visit your favorite Farmers Market!
It's November and fall is in full swing! We also have the start of the holiday season with Thanksgiving here in the United States at the end of the month. A lot of fresh produce is in peak season including root veggies, hearty greens, cruciferous vegetables, winter squash, and fresh pomegranates. Even though it's still warm here in Austin, Texas, cold weather is on the horizon and it's the best time to make cozy, nostalgic recipes like soups, stews, Thanksgiving casseroles, fall salads, and pumpkin pie! If you don't have a favorite market, here is a guide to Farmers' Markets in Austin.
Shopping in-season produce is a delicious way to support local farmers, the environment, and your health. Plus, it gives you a chance to try new and different fresh recipes using seasonal ingredients which vary depending on the time of year. While some produce is available year-round, many nutritious and tasty fruits and vegetables are at peak season in the fall.
As a dietitian, I love visiting the farmers market and getting intel from local farmers as to what's been harvested that week. This handy guide is great to bring to the market or grocery stores with you.
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Health Benefits of Seasonal Eating
Eating in-season fruits and vegetables where you live often means eating them right after they are harvested or picked. This allows them to ripen naturally on the plant until they are ready to eat which ensures peak flavor and nutrition. Freshly harvested fruits and vegetables are higher in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than those that have been transported or sitting on a grocery store shelf for a long time.
Seasonal food ensures you will get a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables! Each month brings new options that contain different vitamins and minerals and gives you nutritional diversity throughout the year
If you live in a place without access to seasonal produce, getting the nourishment you need comes first. Eating frozen or canned fruits and vegetables are a great way to add nutrition to your daily intake, too!
Benefits of Seasonal Eating on the Local Economy
Purchasing local food like fresh produce at peak season from your local farmers' market is a great way to support local farmers and food producers in your area. It also supports the local economy where you live! The money spent there is invested in other small businesses in the community.
Your best bet for seasonal eating is to shop at local farmers' markets. It will vary depending on the weather and environment where you live.
Environmental Benefits of Eating Seasonally
By eating seasonal fruit and veggies, you can decrease your carbon footprint. This is because the transportation process to get produce around the globe uses all different kind of vehicles from shipping trucks to boats. There is a large amount of gas and carbon emissions in the process of the transportation of food.
So without further ado, here is a list of What's in Season in November.
What's in Season in November in Texas
From seasonal vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, and spaghetti squash to a beautiful bounty of fresh fruits. There are plenty of flavors to play with in November. Here is your November Produce Guide:
- Apples (late season apples)
- Arugula
- Basil
- Beans
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cantaloupes
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Chard
- Cilantro
- Citrus fruits
- Collard Greens
- Cucumbers
- Dill
- Eggplant
- Endive
- Figs
- Green Onion
- Kale
- Kiwis
- Leafy Greens
- Leeks
- Lettuce
- Melons
- Mustard Greens
- Okra
- Olives
- Onions
- Parsley
- Parsnips
- Pears
- Peas
- Pecans
- Peppers
- Persimmons
- Pomegranates
- Potatoes
- Pumpkin
- Radish
- Roma Tomatoes
- Rutabagas
- Spinach
- Squash (zucchini squash, yellow squash, spaghetti squash, butternut squash, acorn squash, delicata squash)
- Sweet Potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Turnips
Seasonal Recipes for November
November is an ideal time to visit the Farmers Market because there are so many options to create a healthy meal with hearty vegetables and the best flavor! Whether you are having a dinner party or are looking for tasty recipes that make a great addition to your weekly routine, I hope you enjoy these recipe ideas!
Feta Baked Spaghetti Squash
This Baked Feta Spaghetti Squash recipe is SO delicious and easy to make. It only takes 5-10 minutes to prep and uses minimal ingredients. The melty feta cheese and cherry tomatoes make a flavorful creamy sauce. It's my favorite way to serve spaghetti squash and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Dietitian Tip: I don't like to think of spaghetti squash as a replacement for traditional pasta because I believe each has its place in a balanced eating pattern. But I love using spaghetti squash to get more nutrients like the dietary fiber and antioxidants it provides. This is a delicious recipe that even the pickiest eaters will enjoy! Go to the recipe.
Cauliflower White Bean Soup
This Roasted Cauliflower White Bean Soup is truly one of my favorites to keep on heavy rotation during soup season! Not only does it taste incredible with the caramelized cauliflower and creamy white beans - it's also so easy to make and loaded with nutrition. True comfort food!
Dietitian Tip: One of the easiest ways to ensure you'll eat your vegetables is to use them in a recipe like this one! Roasting the vegetables on a sheet-pan gives the soup so much extra flavor and the cauliflower almost caramelizes in the oven. The addition of white beans in this soup makes it extra creamy and eliminates the need for heavy creams and butter which tend to be high in saturated fats by replacing them with an ingredient high in dietary fiber and plant protein. Go to the recipe.
Hearty Kale Harvest Salad with Maple Syrup Tahini Dressing
If you're looking for a delicious nutrient-rich recipe with fresh greens, this Kale Harvest Salad is the perfect combination of fall flavors, and is loaded with seasonal ingredients. Fresh kale, sweet potatoes, crisp apples, and pumpkin seeds all topped with a creamy Maple Tahini Dressing.
Dietitian Tip - One of the best ways to ensure you'll eat (and enjoy!) your vegetables is to make sure they taste great by choosing combinations that pair well together. And my secret weapon to convert any veggie-hater into a lover is to add a great sauce or dressing. Making a homemade dressing that contains nutrient-rich ingredients like the Maple Tahini Dressing used in this Kale Harvest Salad is a double win: flavor + nutrition. 😊 Go to the recipe.
Butternut Squash Soup with Ginger
It's officially soup season and this cozy Butternut Squash Soup with Ginger is a delicious and nutrient-dense soup recipe for colder months! Sweet squash is roasted on a sheet pan with carrots (one of my favorite root vegetables for their natural sweetness), apples, aromatics, and olive oil and blended to perfection with ginger and fresh thyme to create the absolute best flavor. I hope you love this creamy butternut squash soup as much as I do!
Dietitian Tip - Butternut Squash Soup is a double win - it's delicious and so nutritious it can help you meet your daily needs! Just one cup of cubed butternut squash has 14% of your daily value of potassium, 11% of your daily value of fiber, 12% of your daily value magnesium and 48% of your daily value of Vitamin C! Go to the recipe.
Turkey Vegetable Chili
This easy Turkey Vegetable Chili is serious comfort food for a cold winter day! Once the veggies are chopped, everything comes together in just one large pot or Dutch oven in 30 minutes. It's packed with lean protein, tons of veggies, and different types of beans. It's a healthier alternative to traditional chili and one of my go-to recipes in the fall and winter months! 😊
Dietitian Tip: One of the best ways to ensure you'll eat your veggies is to make them taste great! And prepping a recipe in advance so it's ready to go when you are hungry is key. Make a big batch of this Turkey Veggie Chili so you have plenty leftover for lunch the next day - the flavor gets even better after a day or two! Go to the Recipe.
In Conclusion
Using seasonal fruits and vegetables is a great way to nourish your body, protect the planet, and support local farmers and businesses in your community. In November in The United States, we celebrate Thanksgiving this month which means lots of food for most families.
Whether you shop at local farmers' markets, local grocery stores, or online market, look for some of these fruits and vegetables that are in season in November and get in the kitchen to try out a new recipe! 😊
And remember, if you live in a place without access to seasonal produce, getting the nourishment you need comes first. Eating frozen or canned fruits and vegetables are a great way to add nutrition to your daily intake, too.
References: Texas Real Food, Texas Farmers Market, Farm to Table TX, University of Maryland Medical System, Seasonal Food Guide, WebMD
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