Fall brings cooler temperatures and a bountiful harvest, including:

With your fall produce, make a chopped kale salad with your fresh apples and pears, drizzling it with a lemon-tahini dressing. You could also roast Brussels sprouts, grapes, and red onion with a splash of balsamic or stuff roasted pumpkin with black beans, salsa, and avocado.

Winter (December to February)

Texas still shines in winter with hardy greens, cool-season veggies, and bright citrus. In addition to stored crops, many items are harvested fresh during these months:

Brighten the season with a citrus and fennel salad or simmer a hearty cabbage with carrots and turnips.

Tips for Shopping and Cooking With Texas Seasonal Produce

To fully enjoy your fresh and nutritious seasonal produce, here are some tips for shopping, cooking, and preserving your Texas fruits and veggies:

Consulting Texas Farmers Market Guides

You can find a farmers market near you by checking the Texas Department of Agriculture or LocalHarvest websites to find markets by location and date.

To get the best selection, arrive at your local farmers market early. Bring cash and a cooler to keep your produce insulated and fresh as you browse stalls. This is also a great opportunity to ask growers how they harvest and store their produce, so you can keep your fruits and veggies as fresh as possible.

Subscribing to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

When you subscribe to a CSA, you can pick up or get fresh seasonal produce delivered straight to your door throughout the year. All you have to do is pay in advance, providing the farmer with capital for the season, so you get regular produce and other farm products. This makes meal planning and creating balanced meals that much easier. Search LocalHarvest or the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food directory to find CSA farms near you.

Storing and Preserving Texas Produce

Proper storage and preservation will keep your produce fresher longer and help it retain its nutritional value. Here are some tips: