Whether you've been impatiently awaiting the return of pumpkin spice everything or you're desperately hoping it never comes back, our favorite food season is fast approaching. Because, yes, believe it or not, fall is not that far away. We're already planning our shopping list for all of the spooky Halloween treats, cozy soups, and Thanksgiving menus.

Part of our love for fall food is rooted in nostalgia and celebrating with our loved ones, but we owe much of our favorite treats to the produce that comes into season this time of year. Pumpkin cheesecake? Cranberry pie? Apple crisp? These recipes wouldn't be possible without fall fruits and vegetables.

Sure, you can buy frozen and canned versions year round. But produce is the most abundant, ripe, and flavorful when it's in season. So before you pop open a can of pumpkin puree, consider how much more flavorful your holiday pie will be with fresh pumpkin.

We're breaking down all of the fruits and vegetables that will be in season from September through November. So next time you're wandering the produce aisle of your local grocery store, you'll know what to grab to maximize your fall feasts. Need more recipe inspo? Check out our favorite fall salads, baked goods, and weeknight dinners.

Fruits:

Apples: late summer through late fall
There's nothing like apple cinnamon muffins, apple spice cake, and freshly-baked apple crumble pie right out of the oven.

Cranberries: mid-to-late fall
From cranberry pie to cranberry cake, we have so many sweet and tart treats featuring this fruit.

Figs: late fall
This honey balsamic fig jam is the perfect addition to any charcuterie board. Check out these fancy fig recipes.

Grapes: late summer through early fall

Guava: late fall

Key limes: mid-to-late fall
While you may think summer when you hear "key lime," the little fruit is perfect for fall baking—we love this key lime pie, pound cake, and these cute key lime tarts.

Kumquats: mid-to-late fall

Passion fruit: early-to-mid-fall

Pears: throughout fall
Cinnamon baked pears scream fall, along with these pear desserts.

Persimmons: late fall

Pomegranates: mid-to-late fall

Quinces: late fall

    Vegetables:

    Arugula: throughout fall
    Our favorite green adds a peppery crunch to any fall salad.

    Beets: throughout fall
    Vibrant and earthy, beets take center stage in these recipes.

    Broccoli: mid-to-late fall
    Roasted    , grilled, or thrown into broccoli cheddar soup, we're big fans of broccoli.

    Brussels sprouts: throughout fall
    We've got a lot of recipes to turn Brussels sprouts haters into lovers — like these Bourbon Bacon Brussels Sprouts and Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts.

    Cabbage: late fall
    Cabbage is a kitchen MVP. You may love it in a classic coleslaw, but it also acts as a hearty stand-in for meat in our cabbage schnitzel and cabbage parmesan.

    Celery: late fall

    Chicories: late fall

    Eggplant: early fall
    Who doesn't like a good eggplant parm or a garlicky eggplant pasta loaded with feta?

    Garlic: late summer through early fall
    There's no such thing as too much garlic when it comes to mashed potatoes and shrimp scampi.

    Kale: mid-to-late fall

    Peppers: late summer through early fall

    Pumpkin: early-to-mid-fall
    It's the king of fall and perfect in everything from pumpkin ice cream and no-bake cheesecake to homemade pumpkin bread.

    Squash: throughout fall
    There are so many varieties to choose from butternut and acorn to spaghetti.

    Turnips: mid-fall

    Sweet potatoes: late summer through the end of fall
    Great in desserts or simply roasted, sweet potatoes are oh-so versatile.

    Wild mushrooms: late summer through mid-fall

    Zucchini: late summer through early fall
    Whether you're looking for something sweet or savory, we've got you covered with these recipes.