September is arguably the best month of the entire year for Ontario produce. Summer crops are still going strong, autumn crops are just starting to arrive, and Ontario's famous apples, grapes, pears, and squash all hit their peak — right as tomatoes, sweet corn, peaches, and peppers are finishing their run. It's the only month of the year when you can genuinely eat both summer and fall produce at their best in the same week.
If you live in the Greater Toronto Area and you want to know exactly what's in season in Ontario right now, this guide covers what to buy in September, how to choose the best of each item, how to store it, and how to build meals around the province's most abundant harvest month.
What Fruits and Vegetables Are in Season in Ontario in September?
In September, the following produce hits peak season on Ontario farms:
- Apples (Ontario's headline fall crop — many varieties starting)
- Concord and table grapes (Niagara region peaks now)
- Pears (Bartlett and Bosc)
- Plums and prune plums
- Field tomatoes (last strong weeks of the season)
- Sweet corn (final weeks)
- Peaches (early September only — hurry)
- Peppers (bell peppers at peak, all colours)
- Eggplant (peak season)
- Zucchini and summer squash
- Winter squash (butternut, acorn, spaghetti, delicata all starting)
- Pumpkins (early September onward)
- Broccoli and cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Leeks
- Onions (fresh harvest)
- Carrots and beets
- New potatoes and storage potatoes
- Green and yellow beans
- Cucumbers (field, last weeks)
- Melons (cantaloupe, watermelon — early September)
- Fresh herbs (basil, parsley, dill, cilantro, sage, thyme, rosemary)
- Salad greens and lettuce (cooler weather brings tender greens back)
September is the month with the widest variety of Ontario produce available at once. If you cook seasonally at any point in the year, this is the month to lean in.
Why September Is the Best Produce Month in Ontario
Most people assume July or August is the best month for local eating, but September quietly beats them both — and here's why.
You get summer and fall produce at the same time. Ontario tomatoes, corn, and peaches are still at high quality in early September, while apples, grapes, pears, and winter squash have already started. No other month offers this range.
Apples finally arrive. Ontario apple season begins in earnest in September, and the first varieties like McIntosh, Gala, Honeycrisp, and Empire arrive fresh from local orchards. The flavour difference between a just-picked Ontario apple and cold-storage apples the rest of the year is dramatic.
Concord grapes are only available now. The Niagara region produces some of the best Concord grapes in North America, and they're only available for a few weeks in September. If you've never tasted a real fresh Concord — sweet, floral, and completely different from grocery-store grapes — this is the month to try.
Winter squash starts its long season. Butternut, acorn, spaghetti, and delicata squash arrive fresh in September and store well through winter. Buy them now for months of hearty meals ahead.
Prices are still low. Ontario farms are still in full production, so September prices stay competitive with August's summer lows before winter markups return.
Cooler weather means better greens. Lettuce, spinach, and salad greens bounce back in September once the summer heat breaks. Fall greens are often the sweetest and most tender of the year.
A Closer Look at September's Star Produce
Here's what to focus on this month, how to pick the best of each, and how to actually use it.
Ontario Apples
Ontario apple season starts in late August and builds through September, with different varieties peaking at different times. McIntosh and Paula Red come first, followed by Gala, Honeycrisp, Empire, Cortland, and later Ambrosia, Fuji, and Northern Spy. Look for apples that feel firm and heavy, with tight skin and no soft spots.
How to store: Refrigerate in the crisper drawer, unwashed, in a plastic bag with holes. Ontario apples can last 4 to 6 weeks refrigerated. Keep them separate from other produce — apples release ethylene gas that speeds ripening in nearby fruits and vegetables.
Best uses: Fresh eating, apple crisp, apple pie, Waldorf salad, apple butter, sliced onto grilled cheese, baked with pork, or pressed into fresh apple cider.
Ontario Concord Grapes
Concord grape season is short — usually just three to four weeks in September into early October. These are the deep purple, thick-skinned grapes with the intense grape flavour you remember from childhood juice and jelly. Look for grapes still attached to their stems with a natural silvery bloom.
How to store: Refrigerate unwashed in a container up to a week. Freeze whole for smoothies or grape juice ice cubes.
Best uses: Fresh eating, Concord grape juice, grape jam or jelly, Concord grape pie (a Niagara classic), grape sorbet, or infused into cocktails.
Ontario Pears
Ontario Bartlett and Bosc pears arrive in September. Bartletts are for immediate eating; Boscs are firmer, longer-lasting, and great for baking. Look for pears with intact stems, no bruising, and a slight give at the neck when ripe.
How to store: Ripen at room temperature. Once ripe, refrigerate up to 5 days. Pears ripen from the inside out, so if the neck is soft, the fruit is ready.
Best uses: Fresh eating, pear and blue cheese salad, pear tart, poached pears, pear butter, or sliced onto flatbread with prosciutto and honey.
Ontario Winter Squash
Winter squash — butternut, acorn, spaghetti, delicata, kabocha — starts arriving in September and marks the transition to fall cooking. Look for squash with hard, tough skin (soft skin means it was picked too early) and heavy weight for its size. A dried, corky stem is a good sign of ripeness.
How to store: Winter squash stores exceptionally well — 1 to 3 months in a cool, dry place (not the fridge). Once cut, wrap and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Best uses: Roasted butternut squash soup, stuffed acorn squash, spaghetti squash with meat sauce, butternut risotto, roasted delicata rings with sage, or curried squash with coconut milk.
Ontario Bell Peppers
September is peak season for Ontario bell peppers — red, yellow, orange, and green — with the deepest colour and sweetest flavour. Look for peppers that feel heavy for their size with tight, glossy skin. Skip anything wrinkled or soft.
How to store: Refrigerate unwashed in the crisper drawer for up to 2 weeks. Freeze diced peppers in bags for winter cooking.
Best uses: Roasted red pepper sauce, stuffed peppers, fajitas, gazpacho, sliced raw with hummus, pickled banana peppers, or blended into romesco sauce.
Ontario Eggplant
Ontario eggplant peaks in September — a great time to try varieties beyond the standard globe eggplant, including Italian, Japanese, and Chinese long eggplants. Look for firm eggplants with tight, glossy skin and green, healthy stems.
How to store: Refrigerate unwashed in the crisper drawer for up to a week. Do not store below 10°C for long — eggplant is sensitive to cold damage.
Best uses: Baba ghanoush, eggplant parmesan, moussaka, ratatouille, grilled eggplant with tahini, baingan bharta, or roasted Japanese eggplant with miso glaze.
Ontario Plums and Prune Plums
Ontario plum season peaks in September. Prune plums (also called Italian plums or damsons) are smaller, oval, and dark purple — great for baking. Regular plums are round and juicy for fresh eating. Look for plums with a natural silvery bloom and slight give when pressed.
How to store: Ripen at room temperature, then refrigerate up to 5 days. Freeze pitted halves for smoothies and baking.
Best uses: Fresh eating, plum tart, plum crumble, plum jam, plum sauce for duck or pork, or German-style plum cake (Zwetschgenkuchen).
Ontario Field Tomatoes (Last Weeks)
September is the last strong month for Ontario field tomatoes. By late September, the season starts winding down. If you want to preserve them, this is the window to make sauce, salsa, or canned tomatoes for winter.
How to store: Always keep at room temperature — never refrigerate whole tomatoes. Use within 4 to 5 days for best flavour.
Best uses: Fresh tomato sauce for freezing, salsa, panzanella, tomato tart, roasted tomato soup, or a simple caprese while summer flavour lasts.
Ontario Sweet Corn (Last Weeks)
Sweet corn continues through most of September but starts winding down by month's end. Freeze extras off the cob for winter chowders and stir-fries. Look for husks that are still bright green and moist.
Best uses: Grilled corn, corn chowder, cornbread, elote, corn salsa with peppers and tomatoes, or frozen off the cob for winter cooking.
Ontario Fresh Herbs
September is a great time to preserve fresh herbs before the growing season ends. Basil, parsley, cilantro, dill, sage, and thyme are all at their peak.
How to preserve: Make pesto and freeze in ice cube trays. Chop and freeze herbs in olive oil. Dry hardier herbs like sage, thyme, and rosemary. Dry herbs like basil lose flavour dried, so freeze in oil instead.
Best uses: Fresh pesto for the freezer, chimichurri, sage brown butter over squash, thyme-roasted vegetables, or dill in cucumber pickles.
What Doesn't Come From Ontario in September (And That's Okay)
Even at peak Ontario season, a real family kitchen needs items that don't grow locally. A complete produce box combines fresh Ontario harvest with year-round staples and exotic imports.
Everyday imported staples in September: Bananas, citrus fruits (lemons, limes, oranges), avocados, pineapples, and any items your family relies on year-round.
Exotic fruits at peak in September: Persimmons, pomegranates (starting), passion fruit, dragon fruit, guava, sapodilla, and late-season mangoes from Central America.
A well-curated GTA produce box should combine all three — fresh Ontario produce, everyday imported staples, and exotic fruits — so you have everything your kitchen needs in one weekly delivery.
How to Build a Great September Meal Plan With Ontario Produce
Here's how to build meals around what's freshest this month, transitioning from summer to fall flavours.
Breakfasts: Apple oatmeal with cinnamon and pecans. Concord grape smoothies. Butternut squash frittata. Toast with fresh pear and ricotta.
Lunches: Roasted squash soup with crusty bread. Waldorf salad with Ontario apples. Grilled vegetable sandwiches with peppers and eggplant. Cabbage slaw with apples and toasted seeds.
Dinners: Roasted chicken with delicata squash and sage. Stuffed peppers with rice and ground beef. Eggplant parmesan. Pasta with fresh tomato sauce and basil. Butternut squash risotto. Cabbage rolls.
Desserts: Apple crisp with vanilla ice cream. Concord grape pie. Plum crumble. Pear and almond tart. Pumpkin muffins.
Snacks: Ontario apple slices with peanut butter. Fresh Concord grapes by the handful. Roasted squash seeds. Bell pepper sticks with hummus.
Frequently Asked Questions About September Produce in Ontario
When does Ontario apple season start?
Ontario apple season begins in late August and builds through September, with different varieties peaking at different times. Early season starts with McIntosh and Paula Red, followed by Gala and Honeycrisp in September, and later Cortland, Empire, Ambrosia, Fuji, and Northern Spy through October. Just-picked Ontario apples taste dramatically better than cold-storage apples available the rest of the year.
Are Ontario Concord grapes still in season in September?
Yes — September is peak Concord grape season in Ontario, particularly in the Niagara region. The season is short (about three to four weeks) and ends in early October. Fresh Concord grapes have an intense grape flavour that's completely different from grocery-store table grapes and are worth seeking out.
Are Ontario tomatoes still in season in September?
Yes. September is the last strong month for Ontario field tomatoes before the season winds down. Early September is still peak, and late September marks the tail end. This is the ideal time to make sauce, salsa, or canned tomatoes for winter.
What winter squash is available in Ontario in September?
Ontario winter squash starts arriving in September and includes butternut, acorn, spaghetti, delicata, kabocha, and Hubbard. All store well for 1 to 3 months in a cool, dry place, making September the ideal month to stock up for fall and winter cooking.
Where can I buy in-season Ontario produce in the GTA?
In-season Ontario produce is available at farmers' markets, farm stands, some independent grocers, and through produce delivery services like Freshever. Delivery services that source directly from Ontario farms typically offer the freshest local produce alongside everyday staples and exotic fruits, so you don't need to shop at multiple stores.
What's the best way to store September produce?
Storage varies by item. Apples belong in the fridge, separated from other produce. Winter squash stays in a cool, dry place — not the fridge. Tomatoes and pears ripen at room temperature. Bell peppers, leafy greens, and grapes refrigerate well in the crisper. Concord grapes should be eaten within a week of purchase for best flavour.
Is September a good month to preserve Ontario produce for winter?
Yes — September is the best month of the year to preserve local produce for winter. Make tomato sauce, salsa, and canned tomatoes; freeze corn kernels; make apple sauce and apple butter; freeze berry and stone fruit halves; make pesto and freeze in cubes; and buy winter squash to store whole in a cool, dry place for months of cooking ahead.
Get Ontario's Best September Produce Delivered to Your Door
If you live in the GTA and you want the best of Ontario's September harvest — from just-picked apples and Concord grapes to peak field tomatoes and winter squash — Freshever delivers a weekly produce box that combines fresh local Ontario produce, everyday imported staples, and exotic fruits in one delivery.
This month, that means Ontario apples, Concord grapes, pears, plums, squash, bell peppers, eggplant, and the last of summer's tomatoes and corn — alongside the everyday fruits and vegetables your family needs all year.
Order your September produce box at freshever.ca →
Use code WELCOME15 on your first order.