What fruit, vegetables and fish are in season in France this September, 2024
Government website lists locally available produce and offers healthy recipes using them
Using local ingredients is a cornerstone of French cooking
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The beginning of September marks a number of changes in France – children are back at school, summer holidays end, and the weather turns autumnal.
Read more: Taxes, pensions, travelling: September 2024 changes for residents in France
Another change is the type of fresh food available, and the recipes to take advantage of them.
Modern French home cooking is largely based on seasonally available local ingredients, and many restaurants also have seasonal menus based on local products.
The beginning of autumn marks a shift in the produce to be found both at the farmers’ markets and on shop shelves.
The government provides a list of what local produce is available in France each season through its ‘Manger Bouger’ health programme.
Whilst some areas of France may have slightly different produce available – for example in the south-east summer fruits and vegetables are harvested for longer – the rule generally applies across most of the country.
Recipes also given for seasonal produce
The list of easily available local products can be found here.
September is an excellent month for local produce as there is a crossover between late summer fruit and vegetables (artichoke, peaches, peppers, nectarines) and early autumnal and wintry foods (leeks, spinach, cauliflower).
This in turn allows for recipes that can be attuned both to what you can find at the market or shops, as well as the weather (a leek and potato soup on a colder day, a roasted pepper sauce on a warmer day).
Some of the more unusual foods to be found include pâtisson (pattypan squash) brugnon (a fruit similar to a peach) and blette (Swiss chard, common in the south-east of France).
The website also shows which seafood for the month, including cod, lobster, and crab.
The site can also be used to plan ahead, as information on what food should be available for all 12 months of the year can be viewed.
For example October’s produce includes cèpe mushrooms, celery, and the Kaki fruit.
The site’s recipes also include desserts.
It is not only fruits and vegetables that follow a seasonal calendar, we recently looked at cheeses recommended for September, based on production methods.
Read more: Know your French cheeses and their seasons: which to eat in September?
