Wondering what fruits and vegetables are in season in October? You’ve come to the right place! In this seasonal produce guide, you’ll find a list of the best October produce and my favorite seasonal cocktail and mocktail recipes.

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Best October Seasonal Produce (with Cocktails + Mocktails)

Seasonal produce is a big part of the cocktails and mocktails I make, so I wanted to break down what fruits and vegetables to keep an eye out for this month. Enjoying produce when it is peak season will ensure it has the best quality and taste.

Produce that is in peak season in October include apples, beets, broccoli, cranberries, eggplant, figs, grapes, honeydew, leafy greens, pear, pomegranate, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and winter squash.

Best October Produce for Cocktails and Mocktails

October seasonal produce is amazing for mixing up fresh-forward drinks. You can still get some amazing summer produce like melons and stone fruit at the tail end of their season. But this is also when traditional fall produce enters the chat. Hello apples and pumpkins!

Apples

Apples are in peak season in fall and early winter. Fresh apple cider is one of my favorite ways to incorporate apples into my drinks. Some of my current favorites are my Apple Cider Margarita and Apple Chai Hot Toddy. You can check out more of my apple recipes here.

Beets

Beets are in peak season from mid-summer to late fall. They’re an unexpected but fun ingredient to use in your drinks. Fresh beet juice adds beautiful color and an earthy flavor to cocktails like Drop the Beet and the Beet Ginger Margarita.

Cranberries

Cranberries are typically available in stores from October through December. My favorite way to mix with fresh cranberries is making a cranberry syrup like in the Cranberry Olio Gin Sour. Cranberries also make a festive garnish for drinks that include cranberry juice or cranberry sauce. You can check out more of my cranberry recipes here.

Figs

Figs aren’t always available, so I always grab them when I see them. You can typically find them in June and August to October. I adore fresh muddled fig in cocktails like my No Fig Deal and Maple Fig Margarita.

Grapes

Peak season for grapes is late summer through October. Muddled grapes are a fresh and delish addition to mocktails and cocktails.

Honeydew

Melon season is wrapping up in October so it’s the perfect time enjoy all the honeydew drinks like the Honeydew Lemongrass Fizz Mocktail.

Pears

Pears are in peak season from mid-summer to October. Enjoying a ripe pear in pear season is just so good. I also love mixing up drinks with fresh pear like the Vanilla Pear Smash.

Pomegranate

Pomegranate is in peak season September to November and I’m always excited when it enters my ingredient rotation. It’s so good in cocktails like the Spiced Pomegranate Rosé Spritzer and non-alcoholic drinks like my Ginger Pomegranate Mocktail.

Pumpkin

It can’t be October without mentioning pumpkins! Pumpkins are generally available September to November and incorporating pumpkin into your recipes really means fall is here. Pumpkin puree and pumpkin butter are my favorite ways to incorporate pumpkin into my drinks. The Pumpkin Pie Whiskey Sour is a staple in our household.

Other October Seasonal Produce to Enjoy

• Broccoli: October to April is the best time to enjoy broccoli.
• Eggplant: August to October is peak season for eggplant.
• Leafy Greens: Leafy greens like kale, lettuce, arugula and spinach are in peak season in spring and fall.
• Sweet Potatoes: Sweet potatoes are in peak season in fall.
• Tomatoes: Tomatoes are available year round but best enjoyed in summer to early fall.
• Winter Squash: The cool weather is the perfect time to enjoy winter squash butternut, acorn, delicata and spaghetti squash. They are in peak season early fall to mid-winter.

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