October showcases Canada’s glorious harvest finale, with apples and pears at orchard peak, pumpkins and cranberries arriving vibrantly, corn and tomatoes concluding triumphantly, brassicas like broccoli and cauliflower thriving, and root crops such as carrots and turnips providing hearty abundance. Fall markets brim with colour.
Availability varies significantly by province, weather, and year. What you see at a BC farmers’ market may differ from an Ontario grocer or Quebec field. Use our What’s in Season chart as a general guide, and check your local grocer and farmers’ market for specifics in your region.
Fresh in October (Peak Fall Harvest)
These local field crops define October’s spectacular bounty:
- Beets: October root harvest. What’s in Season? Beets
- Bell Peppers (field): August–October. What’s in Season? Bell Peppers
- Broccoli: June-October in Quebec, Ontario and BC. What’s in Season? Broccoli
- Cabbage: July-September. What’s in Season? Cabbage
- Carrots: August -late September. Carrots are the fourth largest vegetable crop in Canada and mostly grown in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. What’s in Season? Carrots
- Cauliflower: June-October. What’s in Season? Cauliflower
- Green Onions: June – November, Green onions are predominantly grown in the muck fields (drained swampland) of Quebec and Ontario (Holland Marsh), but they are also produced in Nova Scotia, BC and the prairie provinces. What’s in Season? Green Onions
- Lettuce (Head/Leaf): Mid June- Mid October in Quebec, Ontario and BC. What’s in Season? Lettuce
- Pumpkins (early): Late September–October start. What’s in Season? Pumpkins
- Tomatoes: August–October peak; Ontario, Quebec, BC field-grown replace greenhouses. What’s in Season? Tomatoes
- Turnips & Rutabaga: September harvest begins. What’s in Season? Turnips & Rutabaga
These local fruit crops define October’s spectacular bounty:
- Apples (early varieties): September–October harvest begins in Ontario (Niagara), BC (Okanagan), Quebec, Atlantic. McIntosh, Gala lead. What’s in Season? Apples
- Cranberries: October harvest in BC (Vancouver Island), Quebec (Eastern Townships), Ontario (bogs). What’s in Season? Cranberries
- Pears (Bartlett, early): August–September in BC (Okanagan), Ontario. What’s in Season? Pears
- Table Grapes: August-September; Ontario, BC, Quebec, Nova Scotia. What’s in Season? Table Grapes
Fresh in October (Greenhouse)
Greenhouse-Grown (year-round availability):
- Bell peppers: Year-round. What’s in Season? Bell Peppers (Field and Greenhouse)
- Cucumbers: Year-round. What’s in Season? Cucumbers
- Eggplant: What’s in Season? Eggplant
- Lettuce: Year-round. What’s in Season? Lettuce
- Mushrooms: Year-yound. What’s in Season? Mushrooms
- Tomatoes: Year-round. What’s in Season? Tomatoes (Field and Greenhouse)
- Strawberries: Year-round supplement. Strawberries (greenhouse, year-round)
Available in October (Peak Storage)
Storage Crops (optimally stored through winter):
- Apples: What’s in Season? Apples
- Beets: Fall–spring storage. What’s in Season? Beets
- Carrots: Year-round storage freshness. What’s in Season? Carrots
- Dry Onions: Year-round storage. What’s in Season? Dry Onions
- Garlic: Storage abundance. What’s in Season? Garlic
- Potatoes: Year-round storage. What’s in Season? Potatoes
- Sweet Potatoes: Year-round storage. What’s in Season? Sweet Potatoes
- Turnips, Rutabaga What’s in Season? Turnips & Rutabaga
