I do a proper produce run at Target every September — it’s one of those months where the selection actually rewards the extra attention. These nine picks are what I’d put in my cart this time around.
1. Fresh Honeycrisp Apples – 3lb Bag – Good & Gather™ – $7.69
The Honeycrisp window is real — these aren’t available year-round, and September is exactly when they hit their stride. A 3-pound bag keeps snacking simple all week, whether you’re packing lunches or staging a last-minute cheese board.
Taste: Sweet-tart flavor with serious juice, and that signature crunch that actually makes a sound when you bite in. The texture holds up better than most apple varieties — not grainy, not soft, just crisp through to the core.
Make It Better: Slice them thin over sharp cheddar or brie for an instant charcuterie addition that takes almost no effort. They also hold their shape nicely when baked, if you get ambitious with a fall crisp.
Parting Thoughts: Apple enthusiasts — or anyone who’s been waiting for them to show back up — should grab a bag now while the price and quality are both right.
2. Fresh Brussels Sprouts – 12oz – Good & Gather™ – $3.89
Fall roasting season has an unofficial start date, and for me it’s the moment Brussels sprouts reappear in any meaningful way. This 12-ounce bag comes pre-cut, which genuinely shortens the prep-to-pan gap on a weeknight.
Taste: Roasted at high heat, they develop a nutty, slightly caramelized exterior with tender, mild insides — nothing like the mushy boiled version that gave them a bad reputation. The flavor is earthy with a faint sweetness that deepens as they brown.
Make It Better: Toss with olive oil, salt, and a few cloves of smashed garlic, then roast at 425°F until the outer leaves go dark and crispy. A squeeze of lemon or a drizzle of balsamic at the end makes them feel finished.
Parting Thoughts: If you’ve only ever had bad Brussels sprouts, the roasted version is a completely different vegetable — start here.
3. Fresh Sliced White Mushrooms – 8oz – Good & Gather™ – $1.99
I almost always have a container of sliced mushrooms in my fridge because they disappear into so many things — pasta sauce, scrambled eggs, stir-fries, soup. At $1.99, this 8-ounce package of pre-sliced whites is genuinely one of the better values in the produce section.
Taste: Earthy and mild on their own, but they absorb flavor from butter, garlic, and soy like a sponge — which is exactly what makes them so useful. The slices are firm enough to hold up in a skillet without turning to mush if you give them enough room.
Make It Better: Sauté in butter over medium-high heat without stirring for the first couple of minutes so they get color instead of steaming. A pinch of thyme or a splash of white wine toward the end goes a long way.
Parting Thoughts: An 8-ounce package disappears fast — honestly, pick up two.
4. Fresh Cotton Candy Seedless Grapes – 1.5lb – $7.49
The name sounds like a marketing gimmick, but these grapes genuinely taste like cotton candy — sweet in a way that borders on dessert. They peak in late summer into early fall, so September is the right time to grab them before they disappear for the season.
Taste: Firm and plump with a thin skin that gives way easily, releasing a burst of intensely sweet, floral juice. There’s none of the sharpness you get from regular table grapes — these lean fully sweet from first bite to last.
Make It Better: Wash, dry, and refrigerate them for a couple of hours before serving — cold makes the crunch more satisfying. They’re also a crowd-pleaser on a cheese board alongside something salty, like aged gouda or prosciutto.
Parting Thoughts: Seasonal, brief, and genuinely worth the $7.49 — if you haven’t tried this variety, September is the time.
5. Fresh Sweet Potatoes – 3lb Bag – Good & Gather™ – $5.59
That caramelized edge you get from roasting sweet potatoes at high heat — slightly crispy, deeply sweet, almost jammy in the center — is one of the best things September produces. This three-pound bag gives you enough to make a proper sheet-pan side without doing math.
Taste: Naturally sweet with a creamy, almost silky interior when fully cooked. The sweetness concentrates the longer you roast them, and the skin crisps up in a way that’s genuinely good to eat rather than something to discard.
Make It Better: Cube and toss with olive oil, smoked paprika, and salt for sheet-pan fries, or bake whole at 400°F for about an hour — the inside turns almost custardy and the skin crisps just enough.
Parting Thoughts: Three pounds disappears faster than you’d think — they’re the kind of vegetable that gets used at dinner, folded into leftovers, and repurposed in a bowl the next day.
6. Fresh Butternut Squash Chunks – 15oz – $4.99
For anyone who’s ever avoided butternut squash because the whole-squash prep involves a serious knife, real effort, and some genuine risk of injury — the pre-cut chunks solve that entirely. This 15-ounce refrigerated package is ready to go straight onto a sheet pan.
Taste: Sweet and nutty, with a density that holds up to roasting without falling apart. The flesh caramelizes at the edges when cooked at high heat and becomes tender and almost buttery inside — earthy in a way that feels distinctly fall.
Make It Better: Roast with olive oil, salt, and a few fresh sage leaves at 400°F until the edges are browned and slightly crispy. Leftovers blend into a smooth soup with just some broth, a roasted shallot, and an immersion blender.
Parting Thoughts: The pre-cut convenience is the whole argument here — if it makes you actually cook the squash instead of leaving a whole one on the counter for three weeks, it’s worth the premium.
7. Fresh Organic Spring Mix Lettuce – 5oz – Good & Gather™ – $2.99
Weeknight salads happen a lot more often when the greens are already washed and ready. This 5-ounce organic spring mix is the bag I reach for when I’m pulling together a quick dinner and want something fresh without any prep at all.
Taste: Tender leaves with a mild, clean flavor — a mix of delicate greens that isn’t bitter or tough. Not as bold as arugula or as neutral as iceberg; it’s versatile enough to work under almost any dressing you have on hand.
Make It Better: Layer it with roasted sweet potato chunks or sliced apple, a handful of candied pecans, and a balsamic vinaigrette — September is exactly when that combination makes sense. It also works as a quick base when you just need something green alongside a heavier main.
Parting Thoughts: At $2.99 for organic and pre-washed, this is the kind of item where the Target price is legitimately hard to beat elsewhere.
8. Rainbow Bell Peppers 3ct – Good & Gather™ – $2.99
Fajita night, sheet-pan dinners, snack boards — bell peppers show up in more meals than almost any other vegetable in my rotation. A three-count rainbow pack covers multiple colors without having to buy them separately, and the variety works for everything from raw dipping to roasted fillings.
Taste: Sweet and mild with a satisfying crunch when raw, and a silky, concentrated sweetness when roasted. The thick flesh holds up well in a hot skillet without turning watery — which makes them reliable whether you’re cooking fast or slow.
Make It Better: Once you’ve sliced into one, store the rest in an airtight container in the fridge for grab-and-dip snacking through the week. Or halve them, fill with seasoned ground meat and rice, and roast for a dinner that looks more ambitious than it actually is.
Parting Thoughts: Solid for meal prep, snacking, or a weeknight dinner — the kind of thing you use up completely without waste.
9. Hass Avocados – 4ct – Good & Gather™ – $2.49
Four Hass avocados for $2.49 is the kind of price that makes you pick up two packs. They come firm and need a day or two on the counter, which is actually useful — you can let them ripen at different rates and not deal with four going soft at the same time.
Taste: Creamy and rich, with a smooth, dense texture that’s satisfying in a way most other produce isn’t. The flavor is mild and a little nutty — good raw, good spread, good in any context where you want something fatty and filling without much effort.
Make It Better: Ripen on the counter until they yield to gentle pressure, then move to the fridge to slow things down. A ripe avocado keeps refrigerated for a couple of days, which gives you real flexibility in a busy week.
Parting Thoughts: Keep the firm ones on the counter for two days, and they’ll be ready exactly when you need them.
