As temperatures cool and leaves change, fall brings a fresh variety of fruits and vegetables to South Carolina. Choosing in-season produce can add color, flavor, and nutrition to meals while offering a chance to enjoy foods grown closer to home. Clemson Extension’s Seasonal Fruit/Veggies in South Carolina guide is a helpful resource for seeing what’s available year-round.
Colorful mini pumpkins and strawberry corn at a farmer’s market stall.
Photo by Natalia S from Pexels
Fall Fruits and Vegetables to Enjoy in South Carolina
Fall favorites include apples, pumpkins, winter squash, sweet potatoes, collards, kale, turnips, and other cool-season vegetables. These foods are easy to work into everyday meals. Add chopped apples to oatmeal or salads, roast sweet potatoes or winter squash for a simple side dish, or stir leafy greens into soups and stews. For even more ideas, explore HGIC’s Fall and Winter Vegetables and The Benefits of Seasonal Eating: Fresh, Nutrient-Dense, and Budget-Friendly.
How to Select and Store Fall Produce
When shopping, look for produce that is fresh and free from bruises, cuts, or signs of decay. Proper storage can help maintain quality and reduce food waste. HGIC’s Selecting & Storing Fruits & Vegetables (3483) offers practical guidance for keeping produce at its best. Apple lovers can also review Using & Storing Apples (4247 and the HGIC blog Storing Apples.
Enjoy Seasonal Produce This Fall
Whether you’re shopping at a farmers market, grocery store, roadside stand, or harvesting from your own garden, fall is a great time to try something seasonal. This week, challenge yourself to add one new fall fruit or vegetable to a meal. A colorful plate can be a simple and delicious way to celebrate the season.
Additional Resources
- Is It A Decoration? Is It Food? The Many Uses and Types of Fall and Winter Squash
- Pumpkins: Fruit or Veggie?
- Sweetpotatoes
- Rutabagas and Turnips: What’s the Difference?
- Pumpkins & Winter Squash (HGIC 1318)
- Sweetpotato (HGIC 1322)
- Arugula, Kale, Mesclun, Mustard, and Swiss Chard (HGIC 1329)
- Turnips & Rutabagas (HGIC 1324)
