Fresh Fall Foods: Harvest These for Tasty Camping Meals

Posted on September 20, 2017

Fresh Fall Foods: Harvest These for Tasty Camping Meals

Do you feel a chill in the air? Fall is creeping up on us, and that means a whole new menu of local produce to harvest and enjoy. And what better occasion for embracing the abundance of nature than camping? Packing fresh, local produce is a great way to take your fall camping game to the next level.

Ditch the freeze-dried and canned options this season, and load up on fresh favorites for scrumptious camping meals this fall.

Apples

Good news! Apples are grown in all 50 states, which means there’s a good chance that you live near an orchard that offers picking during the fall months. If you are lucky enough to reside in the great state of Maine, sample a variety called Tydeman’s Late Orange-- it is the highest rated apple grown in the U.S.!

For an interactive map with listings of apple orchards near you, check out Orange Pippin’s interactive guide.

Camping recipe: Campfire Baked Apples

Celery

Celery is a versatile ingredient--what else tastes great slathered in either peanut butter or blue cheese? Just the same, many don’t know it’s one of the healthiest superfoods around.

For the freshest local picks, check out varieties that are grown in Michigan and California.

Camping recipe: Chinese Celery

Cranberries

Planning on ditching that gelatinous canned cranberry sauce this Thanksgiving? Good choice! Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and Oregon all produce these sour little wonders in their purest form.

To pick your own, check out Stone Bridge Farm in Acushnet, Massachusetts.

Camping recipe: Dutch Oven Cranberry Apple Crisp

Fig

When figs hit the grocery stores for their super short ‘second season’ in the fall months, fig lovers flock to get a taste of these delicacies.

In the United States, farmers grow figs in California, Texas, Utah, Oregon, and Washington. If you happen upon a fig tree in one of these states, take care to remove only the ripe fruit with shears, cutting from the stem. Once picked, make them into a jam, dry them for year-round snacking, or just eat straight from the tree!

Camping recipe: Campfire-Glazed Peaches and Figs

Persimmons

This lesser-known treat grows wild from Connecticut to Iowa, south to Florida and all the way to Texas.

Persimmons are great in both sweet and savory recipes. The one below will make a tasty breakfast or snack that you can prepare before you head out to the campsite!

Camping recipe: Ginger Persimmon Scone Muffins

We hope we've made you hungry and excited to go camping this fall. We sure are!