Fresh produce seasonal highlights – Autumn 2026
As the air turns crisp and cool, the harvest shifts from sweet juicy fruits and light salad leaves to hearty root vegetables, orchard fruits, brassicas and squashes.
Apples and pears take centre stage for popular, cost-effective crumbles and pies, alongside the last of the plums, damsons and blackberries. Outdoor grown rhubarb is also delicious in autumn desserts, and cheaper than the forced Yorkshire variety.
Squash and pumpkins become widely available, with butternut, acorn and onion squash offering
deep, nutty flavours well suited to roasting and soups.Root vegetables start their long season – carrots, parsnips, beetroot and swede all have fantastic quality and flavour now, having spent the summer developing sweetness underground.
New season leeks begin appearing, and the first maincrop potatoes are lifted and stored, providing the backbone of many autumn and winter meals.
Cauliflower, cabbage and the first Brussels sprouts of the season start to appear, while kale becomes sweeter after the season’s first light frosts. Celeriac and Jerusalem artichokes shouldn’t be overlooked. They are great for purées, gratins and roasted dishes that suit the cooler weather.
Autumn is also mushroom season, with wild varieties like ceps, chanterelles and field mushrooms foraged across local woodlands.