Wondering what fruits and vegetables are in season in September? Look no further! In this seasonal produce guide, you’ll find a list of the best September produce along with the my favorite seasonal cocktail and mocktail recipes to enjoy this time of year!

September seasonal produce graphic including pictures of fruit and vegetables.

Fresh, seasonal produce is one of my favorite sources of inspiration for both cooking and mixing up drinks, so I wanted to share what fruits and vegetables to look out for this month. Shopping for produce when it is in its peak season ensures it has the best quality and taste and can also save you money!

September has many different fruits and vegetables in peak season including apples, blackberries, figs, grapes melons, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, raspberries, strawberries, beets, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, radishes, summer squash, tomatoes and winter squash!

Best September Produce for Cocktails and Mocktails

September seasonal produce gives you a great variety of seasonal fruit and vegetables for mixing up cocktails and mocktails! It’s the tail end of a lot of the summer fruit and the start of some of your fall favorites like apples and figs.

A whiskey cocktail in a coupe glass garnished with fig, dehydrated lemon, and rosemary sprig on a black tray table.

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.

Blackberries

You can get blackberries all year (believe me I know as a toddler mom), but blackberries are in peak season in July and August. And you can really taste the difference. They work great muddled in drinks or made into a syrup. Some of my favorite blackberry cocktails are my Blackberry Lavender Cocktail and Blackberry Crush.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are available all year round but peak in the summer. I love the freshness they add to cocktails and mocktails. You can juice them or muddle them in your drinks. Try them in Green Dream Mocktail or my favorite for parties – Big Batch Cucumber Tequila Cocktail.

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.

Melons

Summer = melon season to me! Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew are all in peak season from May through September. To pick the best melon, look for melons that are heavy for their size and honeydew and should have a sweet, fragrant smell. All melons are great in summer drinks. Try them muddled or pureed. Try my Honeydew Appletini (Honeydew Melon Cocktail), Spicy Watermelon Ranch Water Cocktail Recipe or The Cucumber Melon Cocktail.

Peaches and Nectarines

Peaches and nectarines are in peak season from June to September! These delicious stone fruits are great in fresh cocktail and mocktail recipes and you can pretty much use them interchangeably. Nectarines are a bit firmer and sometimes more tart. Try them muddled or pureed in your recipes. They’re also great grilled! Try my Bourbon Peach Cocktail with Ginger and Basil or snack on this Grilled Peach and Burrata Salad. You can check out my other peach recipes here.

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.

Plums

Growing up with a plum tree in our front yard, plums in the summer always have a special place in my heart. Plums are in peak season June through August and in my opinion never worth it out of that peak season when they are SO good and juicy! Try them muddled or pureed in your cocktails and mocktails. This Japanese Plum Sour is delish!

Raspberries

We have a toddler so it’s always berry season around here but raspberries peak in June through September. Raspberries bring a tart sweet element to drinks that pairs really nicely with all liquors! I really like them paired with lemons in recipes. Try them in a refreshing Raspberry Mint Moscow Mule or Raspberry Rose Lemon Drop.

Strawberries

When strawberries are in season, you can really taste the difference! Even though you can get them year round, strawberries peak early spring through fall. There are so many ways to use strawberries in drinks. Try them, muddled, pureed or make a strawberry syrup. Enjoy them in a cocktail like my Strawberry Southside Cocktail or a mocktail like the Strawberry Southside Fizz Mocktail.

Other Sepember Seasonal Produce to Enjoy

  • Beets: They peak mid-summer to late fall.
  • Corn: Corn is in season from late spring to late summer.
  • Eggplant: August to October is peak season for eggplant.
  • Radishes: Radishes are in season late spring to early fall.
  • Summer Squash: Summer squash like zucchini and yellow squash are in peak season June through August.
  • Tomatoes: Tomatoes are in peak season spring through 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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