7 French Farmer's Market Foods this Fall

Recipe: Golden Pumpkin Soup with Sage & Walnuts | Take a peek into my basket, autumn edition

Jump to Recipe: Golden Pumpkin Soup with Sage & Walnuts

One of the things I love most about living in France is how truly seasonal the food is. In the U.S., it can feel luxurious or convenient to have access to strawberries in January or asparagus in October, but the magic of food gets lost in that endless availability.

Photo by Christian Mackie on Unsplash

Have you ever had a pineapple in Hawaii? That juicy, super sweet, tender and not-acidic delight? It tastes like an entirely different fruit than anything you’d find in the isles of a California grocery store.

When you pause to think about it, that out-of-season produce had to travel an astonishing distance just to land on your plate. Strawberries in January might come from Mexico, Guatemala, or even Chile. Asparagus in the fall often flies in from Peru.

That means planes, ships, and trucks working around the clock, burning through fossil fuels while the produce itself is picked too early and sometimes frozen to survive the journey. And by the time it arrives? It rarely tastes like much at all. When you think about it, that kind of convenience doesn’t feel or taste so sweet.

What I’ve found from my local markets and restaurants in France is that, more often than not, food follows the rhythm of the earth. While in today’s global world meeting customer demands, it is nearly impossible not to import some foods. But the French seem to pay attention to this and make an effort to eat locally, and seasonally.

Berries at my local market this summer

I’ve come to love the beauty in the temporal nature of the cycle: a fruit or vegetable arrives, we savor and celebrate it while it lasts, and then we say au revoir until next year.

If it’s leek season, you’ll see leeks prepared ten different ways on restaurant menus. And if it’s not peach season? You simply won’t find peaches. It’s that simple. Yes, I’ve had to accept giving up kale, and some of my favorite fruits, during certain months of the year. But what I do eat is more full of flavor and nutrients.

What I love most: there’s no “I don’t eat that vegetable” mindset. Truly! My French friends seem to enjoy what’s here, following some unspoken national understanding that what grows now is what our bodies need now. They don’t question whether they do or don’t like a vegetable; they just eat it.

When I head to the organic section (“bio” in French) of the market, I know I’m getting the clearest picture of what’s truly in season.

Here’s what’s filling my basket this autumn:

See what my seasonal & local market has fresh for me — and the stories about these special foods! Plus, a delicious fall pumpkin soup that I’ve served to thousands of people over the years. It’s always been a hit. :)