If you have been eating according to the seasons for the past few months, this month is also a breeze. In fact, September's seasonal vegetables are almost all the same as in August. The only difference is that the ramson ash is also in season this month. The ramme-what? We'll tell you more about this (wrongly!) forgotten vegetable in this article. In terms of fruit, there is slightly less choice this month than in August, but you can still easily make a tasty fruit salad with September seasonal fruit. There is even one type of fruit that is in season for the first time this month: the kiwi berry.
Enjoying all the seasonal vegetables and fruit in September
Thanks to Crisp for the seasonal produce
In September, it is easy to eat according to the seasons: there are so many fruits and vegetables available from Dutch soil, or from unheated Dutch greenhouses. From potato to Chinese cabbage and from apple to melon. To make it even easier for you, in this article we list all the seasonal vegetables and September's seasonal fruit for you. That way, the next time you go to the supermarket, you can put as many seasonal fruits and vegetables in your basket as possible.
A glimpse of September's seasonal vegetables (and fruits).
The benefits of seasonal fruit and vegetables
Supermarkets are full of fruit and vegetables. Why bother to pay attention to which fruit or vegetables are currently in season in the Netherlands? For one thing, it is better for the environment. Fruit or vegetables that have a longer transport route or are grown in heated greenhouses generally have a greater environmental impact. But did you also know that seasonal fruit and vegetables are better for your health? Because the transport route is shorter, the fruits or vegetables are riper before they are harvested. As a result, fewer nutrients are lost. Seasonal fruits and vegetables also contain more nutrients because they are stored for less time. Moreover, fewer pesticides are often used as they are less susceptible to diseases. Finally, it is usually a lot cheaper to buy seasonal fruit and vegetables.
Yet fruit or vegetables from the Netherlands are not always the most sustainable choice
Now that you are convinced of the benefits of seasonal vegetables and seasonal fruit, you can pay attention to them when you go shopping. Because the country of origin is indicated on the packaging, you may choose to buy fruit or vegetables from the Netherlands. Unfortunately, this is not always the most sustainable choice. After all, you can't tell in the supermarket whether the fruit or vegetable was grown in a heated greenhouse. For example, a head of lettuce from the Netherlands may be the most sustainable choice in July; while in January the head of lettuce from Spain is more sustainable because it grows in the open air. Pretty confusing isn't it? To make it easier for you, we have picked out for you which vegetables and fruits grow in full Dutch soil or in unheated greenhouses in the Netherlands. For October, these are the following fruit and vegetables:
Dutch seasonal vegetables September:
The fruit and vegetables in bold can currently be harvested in the Netherlands. The remaining fruit and vegetables, although from the Netherlands, are from earlier months. Vegetables are often stored for months after harvest and thus sold (which is fine).
- potato (inspiration recipe: tikka masala with lentils, pepper and potato)
- endive
- artichoke
- aubergine (inspiration recipe: Chinese aubergine in Szechuan sauce)
- celery
- cauliflower (inspiration recipe: vegan cauliflower nuggets)
- broccoli (inspiration recipe: easy recipe for the tastiest stir-fried vegetables)
- Chinese cabbage
- courgette (inspiration recipe: curry recipe with lentils and saved vegetables)
- green celery
- celeriac (inspiration recipe: celeriac lasagne with vegan bolognese)
- cucumber
- kohlrabi
- head lettuce
- corn
- pak choi
- pepper (inspiration recipe: stuffed peppers with spinach and couscous)
- pumpkin (inspiration recipe: pumpkin curry quiche)
- leeks (inspiration recipe: creamy celeriac and leek soup)
- turnip(stem)
- radish
- ramson ash
- red beet
- red cabbage
- savoy cabbage
- string bean
- green bean (inspiration recipe: green beans and potato curry)
- spinach (inspiration recipe: spicy spinach Indian style)
- pointed cabbage (inspiration recipe: vegan rendang with pointed cabbage)
- tomato (inspiration recipe: vegan gnocchi with vegetables in tomato sauce)
- onion (inspiration recipe: vegan lentil soup)
- fennel
- warmoes
- watercress
- white cabbage
- root (inspiration recipe: Moroccan-style carrots)
Dutch seasonal fruit September:
- apple (inspiration recipe: apple puree)
- blueberry
- blackberry
- grape
- raspberry
- kiwi berry
- melon
- nectarine
- pear
- peach
- plum
- fig (inspiration recipe: candied green figs)
Tips for handling seasonal fruit can be found in the article with June's seasonal fruit.
How and where best to store seasonal fruit can be read in the August seasonal fruit article.
Why storage vegetables and fruits are also on the list
The fruits and vegetables listed above are the varieties normally available this month from full Dutch soil or unheated Dutch greenhouses. This will only not saying that these fruits and vegetables are also this month harvested are. Some varieties such as apple, pear, carrot, potato, pumpkin and onion, for example, can be stored by producers for longer periods of time. This makes these types of fruits and vegetables available even during the winter months, increasing the choice of fruits and vegetables produced locally. Thegreenlist.nl chose to include these storage vegetables and fruits in the list of seasonal vegetables and fruits as well, because they are a sustainable choice of the Dutch country. If we were to omit these varieties, there would be no fruit on the list at all in the winter months, for example. So these storage vegetables and fruits are not quite of the season, but they do offer an eco-friendly way to eat varied and healthy food during the colder months.
Want to know more about how Dutch producers store fruit and vegetables? You can read all about it in this article.
In the left picture, the forgotten vegetable ramson ash. On the right: fennel can usually be harvested through August, but producers can keep fennel for about three months.
Have you heard of ramson ash?
The - in our opinion unfairly - forgotten vegetable radish is similar in taste to radishes. There are oblong and round radishes. The inside is always white, but the skin can be (brown)black, white or pink. Like radishes, ramson can be eaten raw. The seasonal vegetable tastes a little spicy. Tip: if you put a bit of salt on it, the turnip will be easier to digest. You can also cook it in a stew or stir-fry it. If you have never eaten this vegetable before, be careful not to eat too much at once, as it could irritate your stomach.
Source: Velt.nu
Meet the kiwi berry
The kiwi berry is related to the kiwi, but at first glance it looks like a grape. It is only when you cut open the kiwi grape that you recognise a small kiwi. The kiwi grape is packed with vitamin C and you can eat the skin. This juicy and soft fruit has a sweet taste. This makes the kiwi grape an ideal snack for in between meals and a nice change for your fruit salad. In the Netherlands, the kiwi grape is only in season in September and October.
Source: Lekkervanbijons.be
Seasonal fruit and vegetables in September: sustainable, healthy and cheap
We hope you can now make conscious and healthy choices more easily. And with a bit of luck, you'll also notice it in your wallet. Another little tip: bookmark this page. That way you'll always have it to hand when you're in the shop and you can quickly find October's seasonal vegetables or seasonal fruit.
More sustainable tips from thegreenlist.nl
- Want to enjoy all those delicious seasonal vegetables and fruit for longer? Then quickly read this article and find out how to preserve ingredients longer.
- Did you already know that cheese is often not vegetarian? In this article, you will find out how.
- Curious (already) about October's seasonal vegetables? You can find it here.
Sources: Outdoor Living Feeling about the benefits of seasonal eating, Albert Heijn on the benefits of seasonal fruit and vegetables, VegetableGroente.nl on seasonal vegetables by country, Velt's seasonal calendar for the list of seasonal vegetables and seasonal fruit. Photo credits: ramshaft: Kirsten Schoner, other photos: thegreenlist.nl.
