September Seasonal Fruit and Vegetables in Spain

+ Shopping Guide & Recipes

Last updated: September 1, 2026

Discover what fruit and vegetables are in season in September in Spain and across the Mediterranean.

September is one of the most interesting months of the year for seasonal produce in Spain. The markets are usually still full of late-summer favorites such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, figs, and melons, while the first real signs of fall (autumn) begin to arrive.

Grapes take center stage, apples and avocados start to appear, pumpkins are everywhere, and you’ll spot the first pomegranates and early autumn produce depending on where you are in Spain.

It’s a month caught somewhere between summer salads and autumn cooking. This is what makes September so interesting and varied, and one of the best months of the year to eat seasonally. 🍇🍎🎃

Whether you’re shopping at your local mercado, planning healthy Mediterranean meals, or simply wondering what’s fresh and in season, this guide covers the best seasonal fruit, vegetables, shopping tips, and Spanish recipe inspiration for September.

Let’s explore what’s on the plate in September.

 🌿🍉🍅

JUMP TO SECTION: 

What’s in Season in Spain in September?

Seasonal Produce Chart

How to Choose the Best September Fruit and Veg

Seasonal Spanish Recipes For September

Spain’s September Fruit and Veg Production Stats

FAQs

Quick Answer ⭐ Five Things You Should Buy in September

🍇 September is grape harvest season across much of Spain, and local varieties are sweet, juicy, and at their best. 

🟣 Fresh figs are still enjoying peak season, and if you love them grab them now before they disappear for another year. 

🍎 The new apple season is underway, and fresh sweet varieties should be popping up everywhere. 

🎃 Pumpkins and squash are everywhere, indicating the first reminder that autumn and comfort food are on the way. 

🥬 Spinach season starts up again with a new harvest, and being September, you might use it in a salad or stew.

Tips for Using This Seasonal Produce Guide

• 🛒 Choose the fruit and veg to make the recipes in this guide. We’ll give you tips on picking the best quality produce below.
• 🌍 Seasonal eating supports local farmers, gives you the best health benefits, and reduces food miles, so choose what looks great at your local markets.
• 🍽️ Follow our simple Mediterranean recipes below to let September produce shine.

What’s in Season in Spain in September?

September is a transition month, so we get the best of both worlds. 

Early in the month, Spanish markets still have a summer vibe. You’ll typically find peaches, nectarines, melons, figs, tomatoes, eggplants, and zucchini overflowing. 

But, by the end of September, market produce starts to shift. Grapes, apples, avocados, pomegranates, pumpkins, and leeks become more common.

Seasonal Fruit in Spain: September

Seasonal Vegetables in Spain: September

September is still a great month for Mediterranean vegetables, although you’ll see many of the summer favorites are reaching the end of their season. 

Visiting Spanish Markets in September

During September, life starts returning to normal after the crazy summer rush of visitors, sun, long warm nights, and fiestas. It’s a great time to stay in and enjoy home cooked meals. Depending on where you are, this could still be fresh salads or stews and fall/autumn recipes. 

Local Spanish fruit and veg markets shouldn’t be as busy, and the weather should make visiting them more accessible during the day, and not just early morning. 

How to Choose the Best September Fruit and Veg

• Grapes: Look for grapes that are plump, firm, and brightly colored, with smooth, unbroken skin. The stems should look fresh and green rather than brown and dried out. A light, powdery coating on the skin (known as bloom) is natural and is actually a good sign of freshness.
• Figs: Choose figs that are plump, fragrant, and slightly soft to the touch. A little give is perfect, as figs are best when ripe, but they shouldn’t feel mushy or leak juice. Small cracks in the skin are normal too, but avoid fruit with extensive bruising.
• Apples: Look for apples that feel firm and heavy for their size, with smooth, unbroken skin. A few minor marks are usually nothing to worry about, but avoid apples with large bruises or shrivelled skin. 
• Pumpkins: Choose pumpkins that feel heavy and firm, with a hard, intact skin and no soft or sunken patches. A dull, matte skin is often preferable to a shiny one, which can indicate that the pumpkin was harvested before it was fully mature.
• Spinach: Fresh spinach should have deep green, crisp-looking leaves. If you’re buying bagged spinach, check the bottom of the bag for excess moisture, and avoid these, as this makes the leaves deteriorate quickly. 
• Leeks: Choose leeks with firm, straight white and pale-green stems and fresh, upright leaves. Smaller to medium-sized leeks are often more tender, while very large leeks can sometimes have a tougher texture.
• Pears: Pears are often sold while still firm, so don’t worry if they aren’t completely ripe when you buy them. To check their ripeness, gently press the area around the stem; it should give slightly when the pear is ready to eat. 
• Avocados: Choose avocados that feel heavy for their size, with firm, unbroken skin. Avoid avocados with a loose stem, very soft spots, or dark, sunken patches (you already know what’s below).

Seasonal Spanish Recipes For September

I’m going to list some of my favorite Spanish recipes to cook using typically seasonal September produce. But depending on the weather where you are, you might even want to check out our summer recipes still, or winter dishes if you’re more on the hibernating end. 

Cold Meals

Cucumber Soup

This cucumber gazpacho is a refreshing chilled soup that is bursting with nutrients and flavor, thanks to the fresh cucumber, basil, lemon, natural yogurt, garlic, onion, and olive oil. 

Mediterranean Cucumber Salad
This Mediterranean cucumber salad makes a perfect side dish for many meals. Ready in 10 minutes, it’s full of delicious Mediterranean goodies like capers, black olives, and feta cheese. 

Warm Meals

Pumpkin Pisto

We’ve given this pumpkin pisto recipe a twist based off the traditional Spanish pisto with eggs. It’s healthy, delicious, bursting with color, and so easy to cook. A perfect post-summer detox dish. 

Spinach and Chickpeas

This spinach and chickpeas recipe can be served as a tapa or main. Utterly delicious, vegan, and also ridiculously healthy, it’s great for meal prepping and batch cooking too. 

Chicken Thighs Baked with Apple & Cava

What better way to celebrate apples and grapes (in the cava, sparkling wine) than to cook them with chicken thighs to make a hearty, indulgent dinner. With beautifully warming spices like nutmeg, these chicken thighs with apple and cava are also a celebration of fall and the transition from summer. 

Pumpkin Cocas

Cocas are very popular in the regions of Valencia and Catalonia. These pumpkin cocas with caramelized onions are beautiful baked flatbreads that are suitable for vegans and make a great appetizer or tapa. 

Desserts

No-Bake Avocado Lime Cheesecake
This no-bake avocado and lime cheesecake recipe is so creamy, decadent, and divides beautifully into mini cheesecakes that are simply stunning with some mint leaves and edible flowers (optional) for garnish. 

Chocolate and Pear Tart
One of our most popular dessert recipes, this chocolate and pear tart is infused with sweet Spanish sherry, and is a must if you love rich gooey desserts. 

Gorgonzola, Fig and Walnut Tart
With just 5 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking time, this gorgonzola, fig, and walnut tart is one of the easiest puff pastry desserts ever. Drizzle with some honey and sprinkle some fresh basil leaves over, and it’s got that perfect sweet-savory combo. 

Pumpkin Bread Pudding
This pumpkin bread pudding with caramel sauce transforms some stale bread and pumpkin into an epic dessert. Of course, it has all the spices that pumpkin adores: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. 

Spain’s September Fruit and Veg Production Stats

Here are some interesting facts about Spain’s contribution to production of September fruit and veg:

• Spain’s by far the largest producer of figs in the EU (61.5% of the total). This is no surprise, since you’ll find fig trees dripping with figs on the side of roads, mountains, and countryside in many regions of Spain.
• It’s also the largest producer of avocados in the EU (between 70 and 92% each year). 
• Spain isn’t the largest producer of table grapes, although Spain has the largest vineyard area in the world (919,000 hectares). This makes Spanish wine hugely varied, spanning from world-famous reds to whites to cava.

Enjoy the Best of September Produce

September gives you a wide variety of fresh fruit and veg in Spain, and hopefully where you live too. It’s exciting to start cooking cooler weather dishes that weren’t possible just a month ago, and it’s time to make your last favorite refreshing salads and summer dishes. 

If you’re planning meals throughout the year, check out our other monthly seasonal fruit and vegetable guides to discover what’s fresh in Spain every month (find them among our food and drinks articles).

FAQs

What fruit is in season in Spain during September?

Grapes, figs, pears, apples, mangos, and pomegranates are among the best seasonal fruits available in Spain during September.

What vegetables are in season in Spain in September?

Leeks, cabbage, spinach, pumpkins, and cucumbers are among the best seasonal vegetables available in Spain during September.

What produce starts in September?

Early grapes, apples, spinach, cabbage, and leeks begin appearing in markets, marking the transition toward autumn produce.

Are avocados a fruit or vegetable?

Avocados are a bit like tomatoes in that we often use them as a vegetable in recipes, although they’re technically considered a fruit. However you like to eat them, they’re healthy, so enjoy them any way you can.