September is the bridge between the summer and fall harvests, welcoming favorite fruits such as apples, grapes, mangoes, and dates. Classic veggies like carrots and bell peppers can be found side by side with bok choy in market stalls overflowing with last-of-summer tomatoes and berries. Here's what to do with September's harvest ⁠— savor it while you can!

Bok Choy

Bok choy (also called pak choi) is a classic Chinese ingredient appearing in everything from soups to stir-fries and salads. There are several varieties of bok choy, ranging in size from large to small; the smaller varieties, such as Shanghai bok choi or dwarf bok choi, are often sold as "baby bok choy" even though they're fully grown.

Hailing from the brassica family, this atypical cabbage is delicate with a mild, light flavor. Bok choy is beloved not only for its fresh, almost sweet flavor but also its dual texture: the soft green leaves wilt quickly with heat for a pleasingly soft texture similar to spinach, while the white ends remain crisp, providing a satisfying, crunchy counterpoint.

When buying bok choy, look for a firm, crisp base and well-formed green leaves. Dirt can hide easily in the base, so do be sure to rinse it well right before using. Prior to that, store the bok choy in a plastic bag in the refrigerator, where it will keep well for 3-4 days.

Due to bok choy's delicate nature, it fares well with quick cooking methods such as stir-frying, sauteeing, or steaming. While bok choy generally doesn't get too tough, the larger varieties are often chopped for use in salads, whereas smaller varieties can be stir-fried whole or simply chopped in half.

I was first introduced to bok choy when it showed up at my door in a meal kit; there, the baby bok choy was simply halved and quickly sauteed with a bit of oil and soy sauce. Once I saw how quick and easy it was to prepare this way, bok choy became a regular guest in my kitchen as a healthy alternative to more mainstream greens. If you're not a soy sauce fan, mustard or fish sauce are good alternatives to liven up the flavor of bok choy.

Carrots

Sure, you can buy carrots in plastic bags at the grocery store year-round, but for the best tasting carrots, get thee to a farmer's market, stat! This time of year, you'll find markets brimming with more unique varieties of carrots in a rainbow of colors: yellow, cream, orange, and even purple. Not only is a great variety of colors available, but also of tastes; in particular, look for small Nantes carrots, prized for their sweet taste, or pick out the stubby, round Parisian market varieties. A freshly grown Imperator carrot ⁠— the common grocery store variety ⁠— will also taste that much better this time of year.

And what about that perennial favorite, the baby carrot? It's not what you get in the supermarket; those are baby-cut carrots, i.e. standard Imperators that have been cut, peeled, and polished. True baby carrots do exist, however, and can be found in farmer's markets and specialty produce stores. Baby carrots are not actually harvested young but are simply a variety that stays small when fully mature. In fact, carrots become sweeter and more flavorful as they mature, so will taste the best at the height of the season.

When shopping, look for firm carrots without cracks, and, if the greens are still attached, healthy green tops. Carrot greens can be used in a variety of preparations (see the carrot top pesto recipe below!); however, if you don't intend to use the greens, remove them before storing as they will leach flavor from the root. Carrots are a great source of beta carotene, which your body uses to make Vitamin A ⁠— the deeper the orange, the more beta carotene the carrot contains.

Stored unpeeled, dry, and with sufficient air circulation, carrots will keep for several weeks in the refrigerator. Keep carrots away from apples and pears when storing, as they can adversely affect the taste of the carrots.

Carrots are a culinary workhorse, adding depth to soups and stews, creating layers of flavor in a classic French mirepoix, or providing a satisfying crunch eaten raw out of hand or shredded in salads. Carrots have a very high sugar content compared to other vegetables, so they're an excellent choice for adding a hint of sweetness to tomato sauces and baked goods. Simple preparations such as roasting or steaming will highlight the flavor of fresh carrots; for something a bit off the beaten path, check out some of the more unusual preparations below.

Rainbow Roasted Carrots with Mustard and Cumin Seeds

Sweet Peppers

Like carrots, peppers are ubiquitous year round, but flourish this time of year. Peppers, fruits from the nightshade family, are typically categorized as either sweet peppers or hot peppers, and come in a rainbow of colors including red, orange, yellow, green, and purple. Sweet peppers are commonly referred to as bell peppers due to their classic shape.

Pick peppers with firm, thick, and unwrinkled skin that feel heavy for their size. A perfect pepper will be crisp to the bite and sport a healthy green stem. Follow your instincts when selecting your produce; a ripe pepper will look healthy and colorful! Peppers should be stored in a cool space, but beware the refrigerator ⁠— it's typically too cold. Also avoid storing peppers in plastic bags, as this can capture moisture and lead to premature decay.

Peppers can provide a bit of a challenge to cut without making a mess due to the center core of seeds. My favorite way to keep things tidy is to start by cutting off both the top and bottom of the pepper with a large chef's knife, then make a downward slice next to one of the white membranes to open up the side of the pepper. From there, run the knife along the inside wall of the pepper, detaching the membranes as you go, until the center core is released and you're left with a flat, rectangular sheet of pepper, ready to dice or slice as needed.

Peppers appear in cuisines from around the world, often paired with onions and celery in the base of stews and sauces. Peppers are incredibly versatile and can be roasted, grilled, sauteed, pureed, smoked, stuffed, pickled, and of course, eaten raw with a bit of dip. The recipes below are just a small sampling of the various ways you can use peppers; try a Yummly search for over 400,000 more recipe ideas!

Dates

Sweet, chewy dates are stone fruits that grow on the date palm tree; a single one of these hardy trees may produce dates for up to 40-50 yrs. The bulk of American dates are grown in the Coachella Valley of California, where the Deglet Noor variety is king. Dark-skinned Medjool dates are the most common variety, with the lighter-skinned Deglet Noor following closely in popularity. True aficionados will want to familiarize themselves with some of the lesser-known varieties such as the super-soft Barhi date, the mild Zahidi for those that prefer less sweetness, and the indulgent, creamy-textured Honey date.

Fresh dates are often partially dried when purchased, but do look for ones that aren't too dry. Your dates should be moist, pliable, and somewhat sticky, while still holding a distinct shape (wrinkles are to be expected). If you see white spots on your dates, have no fear! That's not mold; it's the natural sugars making their way to the outside of the fruit.

Because dates are naturally dehydrated, they'll keep at room temperature for several months; better yet, refrigerate them, and they can last for up to a year! Dates have a pit in the center that should be removed during preparation along with any stems ⁠— you can also buy them pitted to save yourself the trouble. As a bonus, the gap left by the pit leaves a perfect space for stuffing the dates with savory meats or creamy cheeses.

A versatile ingredient, dates are equally at home in sweet and savory dishes, and are often used to replace processed sugars in health-conscious baking. They add sweet contrast to slow cooked meat tagines, and their flavor pops paired with bacon, nuts, or chocolate. Try one of the recipes below to explore new ways to incorporate dates into your menu.

Apples

This iconic American fruit is at the forefront of the fall harvest. While thousands of varieties of apples can be found throughout the world, a mere 15 varieties account for over 90% of the apple production in the States. Popular varieties include mild Golden Delicious apples; tart and crisp Granny Smiths (a favorite for making pies); small McIntoshes for applesauce and cider; Red Delicious snacking apples; aptly named sweet Honeycrisps; crisp and juicy Galas; and all-purpose Braeburns, Empires, and Cortlands.

Select apples that are firm to hard; while surface blemishes won't compromise quality, avoid apples with bruises or holes that puncture the skin. Apples are great storage fruits and will keep for up to 6 weeks in the crisper drawer of your fridge. It's best to keep them refrigerated even if you plan to eat them quickly ⁠— apples can become mealy in as little as two days at room temperature.

The skins of apples provide flavor, nutrients, and fiber, so go ahead and leave them unpeeled unless the recipe you're working on specifically calls for the peels to be removed. But clean them well! Apples appear on the notorious "dirty dozen" list of fruits that contain high amounts of pesticides if not grown organically, so be sure to wash them before using the skins. When cutting apples, keep a bowl of water and lemon juice nearby; as you slice the apple, toss the pieces in the bowl to help stave off browning. As a general rule of thumb, sweet apples are best for eating out of hand, while tart apples are excellent for baking.

Mangoes

Apples may have a reputation as America's favorite fruit, but worldwide, the mango is eaten more than any other. In India, the volume and number of varieties of mangoes available are overwhelming; here in the States, however, most of the mangoes we see are the Tommy Atkins variety, imported from Mexico. In the Coachella Valley of California (home of the aforementioned date palm trees), green-skinned Keitt mangoes are just beginning to come into season. Other mangoes you'll find in the states include honey mangoes and Kent mangoes.

Mangoes vary in color from gold to green to red, so you'll need to rely on something other than color to determine ripeness. Fresh mangoes should be soft to the touch when ripe, but not so soft that they bruise under pressure. You may see some small black spots on your mango; that's OK as long as there's no accompanying signs of decay. Mangoes should be stored on the counter (not the fridge), where they'll keep for 1-2 weeks. Unripe mangoes are often used for chutney; however if you want to speed up the ripening for another use, place the mango in a paper bag with an apple.

Because mangoes contain a wide, flat pit in the center, you'll need a plan of attack to slice it open. You'll notice that the mango is not round; it has two wide, flat sides (called "cheeks"), and two narrow sides. Start by removing the juicy cheeks: Using a large chef's knife, cut the mango in half through the stem end until you hit the pit, then follow the curve of the pit to remove the thick sides. Trim the remaining fruit from the narrow sides, and discard the pit after greedily sucking down any fruit scraps left attached to the pit (don't forget your napkin!). Next, take the cheeks and gently cut the fruit into squares like you would an avocado, then invert the cheek and use your knife to detach the cubes from the skin.

About those skins: mango skins can contain urushiol, the same chemical in poison ivy or poison oak, and should be avoided by people who are particularly sensitive to these plants (look up “mango itch” — it's a thing). While some smoothie recipes or pickled mangoes may use the skin, the bulk of the recipes you find ⁠— from classic mango lassis to tropical salsas ⁠— call for the skin to be removed.

Grapes

While grapes are technically a berry, I always think of them as being in a league of their own. Perhaps most famous for their role in making wine, grapes are as varied as the wines they produce, with an estimated 10,000+ varietals in existence today! For the average American, however, grapes are bought for eating, not winemaking. Some of the more prevalent table grapes include tiny, sweet, Champagne grapes, as lovely to look at as to eat; common mild green or red seedless varieties, frequently dried to make raisins; large black grapes that make a lovely (and flavorful) addition to a cheeseboard; sweet and snackable cotton candy grapes; and, of course, the classic native Northeast grape, the Concord, a favorite cooking grape for jams, juice, and syrup.

When buying grapes, be sure the fruit is firm, with no soft spots or signs of shriveling. Remember, the smaller the grape, the more flavorful it is. And what about that gray film you often see on the outside of grapes? It's called the bloom, and is actually a good thing. It's not a pesticide; it's a naturally occurring substance that helps protect the grape and keeps it fresh. And it's fine to eat! Grapes should be stored unwashed in the refrigerator for maximum life, then washed in cool water just before eating.

Many people also enjoy freezing grapes for cool, sweet treat. To freeze, spread the grapes in a single layer on a pan and freeze for about an hour; then tuck the grapes into a plastic freezer bag, where they'll stay good for up to two weeks. Grapes are also great for jam-making due to their high pectin content, while pickled grapes make a fantastic (and unusual) companion to blue cheese. Used in dips, salsas, or chicken salad, grapes add an unexpected burst of flavor and sweetness to savory dishes. Try one of the recipes below to help you make creative use of fresh grapes this season.

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Check out other articles in our monthly fresh produce series.