Harvest Recipes Across the U.S.

Fall is the season of plenty. Planted in spring and nurtured all summer long, a colorful bounty of crops pours into farmers markets across the country, making it easier than ever to eat a wide variety of local, seasonal ingredients.

Having grown up in the Northeast, I associated fall with apples, pears, and maple syrup. Last year, however, I moved to the West Coast, and discovered a whole new fall harvest--from persimmons to quince to almonds. That got me to thinking. What other crops are being treasured all over the continental U.S.? What are people in Atlanta, New Mexico, Ohio and New York looking forward to eating?

The following recipes are an homage to fall crops across the US, highlighting regional stars--from almonds and apricots, from wild mushrooms to wild rice. In addition to creating new recipes with local produce from each region, I have also came up with regional harvest shopping lists, so that no matter what part of the county you live in, you can be sure to base your menu on what's in season. Happy harvest!

Find your region below:

THE SOUTHWEST

Fall Harvest: apples, beets, collard greens, daikon, dates, edamame, soybeans,
gourds, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, melons, peas, persimmons, pistachios, pumpkins, radishes, shallots, turnips, winter, squash.

Still in Season: arugula, carrots, Chinese greens, garlic, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, onions, raspberries, salad greens, spinach, Swiss chard, tomatoes, wheat grain.

Try: Southwestern Pistachio Crusted Steak with Roasted Poblano Chile Sauce

THE SOUTHEAST

Fall Harvest:apples, arugula, asian pears, beets, blackberries, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, Chinese greens, collard greens, gourds, grapes, kale, leeks, lettuce, mustard greens, peas, pumpkins, radishes, raspberries, spinach, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, Swiss chard, turnips.

Still in Season: cucumber, eggplant, green beans, hot peppers, okra, salad greens, summer squash, sweet peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, zucchini.

Try: Southeastern Sweet Potato Corn Pudding

THE MIDWEST

Fall Harvest: apples, broccoli, brussels sprouts, corn (grain), gourds, onions, parsnips, pears, pumpkins, radishes, rutabagas, sweet potatoes, turnips, wild rice (grain), winter squash.

Still in Season: barley (grain), beets, blackberries, buckwheat (grain), cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cucumber, eggplant, garlic, green beans, green onions, hot peppers, leeks, lettuce, melons, mustard greens, peas, potatoes, soybeans (grain), spinach, sweet corn, sweet peppers, tomatillos, tomatoes, raspberries, summer squash, walnuts, watermelon, wheat (grain), zucchini.

Try: Midwestern Barley Pumpkin Risotto

Minnesotan Wild Rice With Braised Tempeh, Butternut Squash, and Red Onion

THE NORTHEAST

Fall Harvest: apples, apricots, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cranberries, gourds, hot peppers, kale, leeks, maple syrup, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, raspberries, sweet potatoes, turnips, winter squash.

Still in Season: arugula, beans, beets, blackberries, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, Chinese greens, collard greens, corn, eggplant, endive, escarole, grapes, green onions, lettuce, melons, onions, plums, sunchokes, sweet peppers, Swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons.

Try: Pop's Northeastern Roasted Applesauce Cake

New England Pear Soup with Chervil and Crème Fraiche

THE NORTHWEST

Fall Harvest: apples, asian pears, brussels sprouts, burdock figs, grapes, kiwis, leeks, mushrooms, pears, pumpkins, rice (grain), sunchokes, sweet potatoes, Swiss chard, turnip, greens, walnuts, winter squash.

Still in Season: beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, corn (grain), cucumber, garlic, hazelnuts, hot peppers, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, okra, onions, potatoes, radishes salad, greens, soybeans (grain), summer squash, tomatillos, strawberries, zucchini.

Try: Oregonian Farfalle with Wild Mushrooms and Sprouted Lentils

THE WEST

Fall Harvest: apricots, almonds, cranberries, gourds, grapes, grapefruit, limes, persimmons, pumpkins, quince, winter, squash, chestnuts, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, pistachios, walnuts.

Still in Season: apples, asian pears, avocados, blackberries, boysenberries, carrots, celery, Chinese greens, dates, eggplant, garlic, green onions, kale, leeks, lemons, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, olives, radishes, salad greens, spinach, strawberries, sweet peppers, swiss chard, summer, squash, tomatillos, tomatoes, turnips, zucchini.

Try: Berkeley Farmers’ Market Fall Harvest Cake