Seasonal foods for September

Eating seasonally is one of the most eco-conscious practices that you can uphold in your kitchen.
Modern food shopping is an incredible system. Just 20 years ago, you could only eat foods that could be grown in the UK climate, at that specific time of year. Now, you can have fruits, berries and vegetables of your choosing, whenever you fancy them. This sheer volume of choice never ceases to amaze.

However, there is a price to pay for this mass availability.

Why should we eat seasonally?
According to DEFRA, British supermarkets import 95% of the fruit that they sell. and more than half of its vegetables.

Ever wondered how exactly it is that we get raspberries in the autumn? Well, these out-of-season fruits will have had to be shipped halfway across the globe.

Consumers choosing off-season produce is a huge contributor to pollution. The environment has to foot the bill for our demands, as fruit gets flown, shipped or driven around the globe to reach our kitchens out of season.

By choosing fruit based on when it is in season in the UK, you can massively cut down your trolley’s carbon footprint.

This is a fantastic, simple way to reduce your environmental impact - all it requires is a bit of selflessness.

In addition to the benefit it brings to the planet, eating seasonally also helps you to save money, eat fresher food with less chemicals used in their production, and take in more nutrients.

As you can see, it’s a real win-win.

How can I eat seasonally?
That’s an easy one - knowledge is key.

The best way to ensure you’re eating seasonally is to keep informed. With this in mind, we wanted to share a full seasonal eating guide for September.

We know that, when it comes to buying fruit, September is a particularly tricky month. During the summer months, we Brits get to enjoy a huge range of delicious fresh fruit.

All at once, everything comes into season. Throughout the summer, our supermarket shelves are filled with perfectly ripe berries that have been grown right here in the UK. But, as the months get colder, our fruit range quickly becomes more limited.

In order to make sure you’re not eating fruit that’s been carted from thousands of miles away, you’ll need to stay informed about what’s changing with the seasons.

So, here is a full list of all of the fruit that’s in season in the UK in September:
Apples, Bilberries, Blackberries, Damsons, Elderberries, Pears, Plums, Raspberries, Red-currants, Sloe berries, Tomatoes

And the list of vegetables to eat now:
Artichoke, Aubergine, Beetroot, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage (Red, White, Savoy and Spring Green), Carrots, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chillies, Courgettes, Cucumber, Fennel, French Beans, Horseradish, Leeks, Lettuce (Cos and Iceberg), Mangetout, Marrow, Pak Choi, Pumpkin, Radishes, Runner Beans, Shallots, Spring Onions, Squash. , Sweetcorn, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress
Wild Mushrooms

Rich September bourguignon recipe

Other popular in-season September ingredients include hearty veg like butternut squash, pumpkins and turnips; salad staples like beetroot, celery, rocket and fennel; plus more luxurious foods like artichokes, french beans, pak choi and wild mushrooms.

We’ve been inspired by these delicious autumnal recipes. To help you include these seasonal ingredients in your home cooking - and not only eat healthy, but eat seasonally, too - we’ve included our recipe chestnut and mushroom bourguignon.

You can thank us later.


Chestnut and mushroom bourguignon

Ingredients
  • Olive oil, 2 tbsp
  • Onions, 2, chopped
  • Carrots, 5, sliced
  • Garlic, 2 tsp, chopped
  • Brown chestnut mushrooms, 300g, chopped
  • Button mushrooms, 300g, chopped
  • Borlotti beans, 400g
  • Chestnuts, 200g, peeled and cooked
  • Flour, 2.5 tbsp
  • Nutritional yeast flakes, 4 tbsp
  • Red wine, 300ml
  • Boiling water, 150ml
  • Vegetable stock powder, 2 tsp
  • Tomato puree, 2 tbsp
  • Fresh parsley, 2 large handfuls, chopped

Method
  1. Add the oil, onions, garlic, carrots and mushrooms to a large frying pan. Cook for 2 minutes.
  2. Add in the flour and stir. Then add the red wine, chestnuts and borlotti beans into a pan. Turn the heat up to high and cook for 1 minute. Then pour in the boiling water, followed by the yeast flakes, stock powder and tomato puree.
  3. Cover and cook until the sauce is thick.
  4. Add salt and pepper to taste, then stir in the parsley. Serve with a few slices of wholemeal bread.


Reading growing calendars (like the one above) is the best way to stay informed about what you’re buying. In order to make the right decisions when you get to the supermarket, think about seasonal eating in advance, before you get there.

By pre-planning your shopping, and comparing your food shop list with a seasonal eating calendar, you can make sure you are only buying food that is in season.

The FridgeCam is a fantastic aid to your list-making. With it, you can keep a close eye on what’s going in and out of your fridge.

What’s more with the handy due date feature, you can make sure that all of your fresh food is perfectly ripe. Your FridgeCam (through the Smarter phone app) will ping you with helpful reminders to let you know that your food needs eating ASAP.

With the FridgeCam, you can keep your kitchen as eco-conscious as possible. Find out more about its full range of features on the Smarter online shop.

Written by Josephine Walbank