Autumn has started again. That means vegetables like kale, Brussels sprouts and chicory are back in season in the Netherlands this month. By the way, did you know that October has the most seasonal vegetables available of the whole year? I did not expect it in this often cold and gloomy month; but there are no less than 44 seasonal vegetables in October, growing in the open ground or unheated greenhouses in the Netherlands! Are you also curious which ones these are?
Take advantage of seasonal vegetables from Dutch soil especially in October
Thanks to Crisp for the seasonal produce
As we approach the cold and dark time of the year, your body could use some extra vitamins. Tap into the power of nature and eat according to the seasons more often. It has even been scientifically proven that some vegetables contain more vitamins during autumn and winter, than during the warmer seasons. For example, spinach and broccoli contain more vitamin C during autumn. There are also many other benefits to seasonal vegetables and seasonal fruits.
The benefits of seasonal vegetables and seasonal fruit
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 vegetables and seasonal fruit are better for your health? Because the transport route is shorter, the vegetables or fruits are riper before they are harvested. As a result, fewer nutrients are lost. Seasonal vegetables and fruits 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 fruit and vegetables from the season.
Wow, in October there is still so much to choose from in terms of seasonal fruits and vegetables.
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 October:
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: vegan tikka masala with lentils, pepper and potato)
- endive
- artichoke
- aubergine (inspiration recipe: Chinese aubergine in Szechuan sauce)
- celery
- cauliflower (inspiration recipe: whole roasted cauliflower from the oven)
- kale (inspiration recipe: vegan pumpkin stew with kale asian style)
- 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
- mushrooms (inspiration recipe: Udon noodles with mushrooms)
- pak choi
- pepper (inspiration recipe: stuffed peppers with spinach and couscous)
- parsnip (inspiration recipe: vegan parsnip puree)
- pumpkin (inspiration recipe: orange child-friendly pasta sauce)
- leeks (inspiration recipe: creamy celeriac and leek soup)
- turnip(stem)
- radish
- ramson ash
- red beet
- red cabbage
- red leave
- savoy cabbage
- salsify
- chard
- 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)
- sprouts (inspiration recipe: vegan gnocchi with vegetables in tomato sauce)
- tomato (inspiration recipe: hummmusbowl with harissa tomato sauce)
- onion (inspiration recipe: vegan lentil soup)
- lamb's lettuce
- fennel
- warmoes
- watercress
- winter purslane
- chicory
- white cabbage
- root (inspiration recipe: Moroccan-style carrots)
Dutch seasonal fruit October:
- apple (inspiration recipe: apple puree)
- blackberry
- grape
- raspberry
- kiwi berry
- melon
- pear
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 October, you pretty much have the most choice of seasonal fruits and vegetables of the year.
Healthy into winter with October's seasonal vegetables
Nature is smart and gives us exactly what we need at the moment. For instance, during the autumn and winter months, many vegetables grow that are packed with vitamin C. And that is exactly what we need at this time of year when many people have colds. There are even scientific studies showing that some vegetables contain more vitamins during the autumn and winter months than during the warmer months. Here are some examples of October seasonal vegetables that are high in vitamin C:
- Sprouts are back in season this month and are packed with vitamin C. Did you know that in a two-hundred-gram serving of cooked Brussels sprouts, more than two and a half times as much vitamin C than in an orange? Brussels sprouts are in season in the Netherlands in October, November and December.
- Spinach is in season from March through October. Yet your immune system can benefit most from eating this vegetable in October because during autumn, spinach 55% contains more vitamin C.
- Broccoli is available from June to November. During autumn, broccoli can contain up to 50% more vitamin C.
- Did you know that kale also packed with vitamin C zit? From this month, kale is back in season and you can enjoy it until March.
- The parsnip is also in season from October to March and is a good source of vitamin C.
The above vegetables naturally contain other vitamins and minerals, as do other types of (seasonal) vegetables and fruits. This is why variety remains the most important thing. Fortunately, with October's seasonal vegetables and fruit, you have plenty of choice.
Seasonal vegetables and seasonal fruit in October: 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
- Keeping food fresh for as long as possible? This is the best fridge layout.
- What is the difference between THT and TGT and how closely should you take the matching best-before warnings? Read all about it here.
- Curious about other months' seasonal vegetables? You can find them 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, Nu.nl on the benefits of seasonal vegetables during autumn. Photo credits: thegreenlist.nl.
