Organic Boxes in season: Autumn
It’s reasonable to assume that when you buy organic boxes they will be full of seasonal produce but do you really know what’s in season this month? We are so used to supermarkets with their shelves full of air freighted produce from all over the world. Do you still know roughly what to expect at any given time of the year? I did a quick straw poll of a few friends and was surprised by their answers. Only the vegetable gardeners really knew what was in season now. Someone even thought that Spring greens were in season!
“Well, they are. In Sainsburys!”
In season now – things you might expect to find in organic boxes in September and October
organic boxes - Autumn vegetables
Autumn Organic Vegetables in The UK
With most basic organic box schemes you can expect some staples, (usually carrots, onions and potatoes) plus some more interesting seasonal vegetables. Most companies offer a variety of organic boxes to suit different needs. Some, like Abel & Cole, let you specify anything you don’t want included or add extras.
- Aubergine
- Beetroot – not just for putting in vinegar! Recipes soon.
- Broccoli – the big green one not the purple sprouting Spring kind
- Cabbage – Several kinds :green pointed, not so hearty as later cabbage, first of the red cabbage, small round green ones just starting to appear.
- Carrots
- Cauliflower – just starting to appear.
- Celery
- Courgettes – larger than August, more like small marrows
- Kale – this is a winter staple but might be just starting to appear.
- Leeks – big thick ones are now in season. Think hearty soups like leek and potato.
- Potatoes – main crop varieties like Cosmos
- Peppers – mostly red now
- Spinach
- Sweet corn – modern varieties ripen well in the UK, peak season end of September/early October
- Sweet potatoes – great alternative to ordinary potatoes
- Squashes – mostly butternut but pumpkins and marrows later.
- Swiss Chard
- Tomatoes – big fat ripe ones for cooking, still some cherry ones too.
- White Onions – not so strong as later but moist and crunchy
Autumn Fruit in the UK – things you might expect in organic boxes in October
Not all organic boxes include fruit but it can be a good way of making sure there is fresh fruit available to your family every week without fail.
- Apples – just starting to come in, gorgeous fresh, early English apples. Often small just now but full of flavour.
- Pears – English varieties, not just Conference but other more interesting ones. Hard when they arrive a few days in the fruit bowl and they’ll be delicious. Or you could always make Pears in Red Wine (I’ll add a recipe section soon!)
- Plums – if you are lucky the tail end of the English plums might still be around. Yum!
A few imported extras you might find in your organic boxes in October
People running organic box schemes are mostly realists and they know that families sometimes want things out of season. You can expect that despite being imported these extras will still be fresh, organic and will not have been air freighted.
- Bananas – OK, so these are imported but most families want them! Getting organic ones delivered is a real bonus.
- Grapes – these are seasonal, and in season right now, even if brought over from Spain. Enjoy!
- Oranges – not really at their best yet but still welcome.
Next Month – What to Expect in Winter Organic Boxes
This will list some of the vegetables and fruits you might find in organic boxes in the next few months.
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