October’s Autumn Harvest: Your Guide to This Month’s Richest & Freshest Seasonal Produce

Squash and Pumpkins

October is the peak moment for gourds and squashes, offering a dazzling display of colours and textures.

• Pumpkins and munchkin pumpkins (including mixed colours) bring festive flair, whether used for carving, roasting, or sweet bakes.

• Specialty varieties – gem squash, Hokkaido, onion, spaghetti, sweet lightning, and delica squash – provide chefs with a palette of flavours, from buttery and nutty to fibrous and subtly sweet.

• Mixed gourds add decorative seasonal appeal to displays and festive events.

Italian Leaf Heritage

• Puntarella, a Roman chicory, arrives with its bitter crunch, excellent for adding freshness and contrast in salads.
• Cime de rape (turnip tops) offers a peppery, earthy flavour typical of southern Italian cooking.
• Treviso radicchio brings deep burgundy leaves and a bitter bite, balancing rich seasonal dishes.