Oct 28, 2025
The beautiful and warm Costa Blanca attracts tourists all year round, even in autumn and winter, when the heat disappears and the sea becomes cooler for swimming. In addition to the obvious: the sun and the healthy sea climate, people come here for the healthy Mediterranean food, an important part of which is fruit.
What fruits can be found from September to January in the farmers' markets of Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa, in the fruit shops and supermarkets?
🍇 Grapes
The most obvious and beloved fruit, inseparably linked to Spain, is cultivated in both wine and table varieties, white and black, with and without seeds.
For Spaniards, grapes are not just a fruit: they are a symbol of abundance and happiness.
On New Year's Eve, Spaniards buy grapes to eat 12 of them as the clock strikes midnight and make a wish for each month of the new year.
Normally, the harvest begins in August-September..
However, for this New Year tradition, farmers have learned to extend the fruiting season so that everyone can buy the necessary amount of grapes before the holidays.
The price per kilo depends on the variety and varies between €2 and €6.5/kg
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🫐 Figs
This healthy fruit begins to bear fruit in late summer or early autumn.
It is actively cultivated in the Valencian Community and is highly prized for its beneficial properties: thanks to its high fibre, potassium, calcium, iron and magnesium content, it improves digestion, supports the cardiovascular system, strengthens bones and the immune system, and helps with colds and skin problems.
It is eaten raw, used in salads and hot dishes, and also dried.
Botanically speaking, the fig is not a "fruit", but rather a type of inverted inflorescence (with "seed pods" inside).
Ripe fruit spoils quickly, so the fig season is quite short; by late autumn, their abundance in the markets diminishes.
The average price during the season is around €3-5/kg, depending on the region and variety.
🥭 Mango
The juicy, ripe mango is a heavenly delight and a unique treasure trove of flavours.
Previously, this fruit was considered exotic in Spain and was imported from more tropical countries, but now more and more farmers are growing it.
It began to be cultivated in the southern regions of Spain, in greenhouses or subtropical microclimates.
There are also mango producers in the Valencian Community, although not yet on a large scale.
However, this year's mango harvest in Spain exceeded expectations, and at the beginning of autumn, mangoes of the Haden, Tommy Atkins, and and Tommy Atkins varieties at affordable prices of €2-3/kg.
🍏 Apples and pears
Traditionally, they are the most popular and accessible fruits, with a fairly long fruiting season, from early autumn to winter, and some apple varieties even into spring.
Apples and pears are grown throughout Spain, but somewhat less so in the Valencian Community than in the northern regions: here the climate is warmer and there are fewer areas with the intense cold that these fruit trees need.
The main varieties of apples are Golden, Red Delicious, Fuji, Royal Gala and others; and pears — Conference, Blanquilla, Packham's Triumph.
The average price of these fruits is €1-3/kg.
Apples and pears are important not only as fresh fruit: they are used for cider production, drying and beverages.
In Rincón de Ademuz, in the province of Valencia, there is an annual festival in mid-November — Esperiega Apple Fair, dedicated to an ancient local variety of apple called "esperiega".
Local farmers preserve old varieties and organise festivals, fairs and tastings. For many residents, it is a matter of pride: "We sell the apples that our grandparents used to grow, and some young people had never even tasted them before."
🍂 Persimmon
The active persimmon harvest season begins in autumn, approximately in September–October, and lasts until winter (December–February), depending on the variety.
Persimmons are widely grown in Valencia, especially in Ribera del Júcar, Alto Palancia, Ribera Alta and Ribera Baja. In these areas, the 'Rojo Brillante' variety is the most popular. Its main characteristic is its astringent flavour when green, which disappears completely when ripe, becoming sweet. The fruits are large, red, seedless, with firm flesh and thin skin, ideal both for eating fresh (even with the skin) and for adding to salads and other dishes.
The average price in markets and greengrocers during the harvest is €1 to €3.5/kg.
Persimmon farmers in the Valencian Community complain that part of the harvest is lost due to hail or exposure to the elements — sometimes they have to cover the trees with nets or tarpaulins, which increases costs.
Some say, "Protecting persimmons now is like caring for a chick: the wind or hail may come — and everything will be lost."
Pomegranates
The pomegranate is a legendary fruit grown in Spain, whose image even appears on the Spanish coat of arms. It is one of the oldest cultivated fruits.
Juicy, sweet and very healthy, their seeds are added to salads, desserts, juices, drinks and are even eaten on their own.
In Spain, pomegranate trees are cultivated in the southern regions of Valencia, Murcia, and Andalusia.
In the province of Alicante, the largest number of pomegranate farms are located in Elche; the popular variety of pomegranate, Mollar de Elche, is considered one of the most delicious in the world.
The harvest lasts from October to the end of January.
The average price of pomegranates during the harvest season is approximately €3-5/kg.
🍑 Plum
Plums are one of the oldest fruit crops, prized for their intense flavour and health benefits.
In Spain, the plum season is quite long thanks to the variety of types, from the earliest in summer to the latest, which can be found in markets even in November.
They are cultivated throughout Spain, especially in the warm Mediterranean regions: Murcia, Andalusia, Aragon.
The most common autumn variety is Angeleno, with dark skin and a sweet flavour.
The average price in autumn is €2-4/kg.
🍊 Citrus fruits
Of course, Spain's main calling card is citrus fruits — lemons, oranges and mandarins..
These fruits are very varied and much loved.
There are many varieties of lemons that bear fruit all year round, producing several harvests.
However, the classic season for mandarins and oranges begins in late autumn or early winter (November–December).
Citrus fruits are widely grown in the provinces of Valencia, Castellón and Alicante. The main varieties are Navel, Valencia, Clemenules, Satsuma, etc. a7>Clemenules, Satsuma, Verna Limón, among others.
Approximate price during the season: winter oranges and mandarins can cost between €0.80 and €1.50 per kilogramme at retail, and lemons a little more.
Citrus fruits are an important part of Valencian culture and economy. It is impossible to imagine this region in spring without the scent of orange blossom, in summer without orange blossom honey, and in winter without fragrant, juicy mandarins and oranges.
They are used in juices, cocktails, sangria, cooking, and lemon cake is a classic Spanish dessert loved by all.
🍈 Chirimoya
It is an exotic fruit with creamy flesh, whose flavour is compared to a mixture of pineapple, banana, papaya, strawberry and mango.
It is heart-shaped or conical, with scaly skin and sweet, fibrous flesh.
The seeds cannot be eaten because they are toxic.
In Spain, cherimoya is usually harvested from late autumn and winter, as it requires mild temperatures. In Andalusia, for example, it is harvested from October-November until early spring.
The main producer is the Costa Tropical region of Granada and Málaga, where almost all Spanish production is concentrated.
One of the best-known varieties is Fino de Jete.
The price during the season is around €3-4/kg.
The cherimoya is sometimes called "white delicacy" because of its creamy, sweet flesh. Although Spain is one of the world's leading producers, many consumers are still unfamiliar with this fruit.
🐉 Pitahaya (Dragon Fruit)
This fruit, once considered exotic, is becoming increasingly popular among Spanish farmers due to its beneficial properties.
Pitahaya is good for digestion thanks to its high fibre and prebiotic content, strengthens the immune system thanks to vitamin C and antioxidants, and is good for the heart and blood vessels. It can also help normalise blood sugar levels, promote weight loss and improve skin, hair and nails.
In Spain, it is still a "new" crop and production is still small, but sufficient for the local market. Harvesting can take place from early autumn until November.
In the Valencia/Alicante region, farms growing pitahaya have sprung up, such as the company Dracofruit.
Different varieties with red or white flesh are cultivated. Red flesh is considered more beneficial due to its greater anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidant content.
In September 2025, the price per kilo of pitahaya could reach €6-8/kg at retail.
Despite its mild and not very intense flavour, this fruit is popular for its benefits and attractive appearance, widely used for decoration in gastronomy, baking and cocktails..
🌵 Opuntia (Prickly Pear)
The fruit of the large cactus Opuntia ficus indicahas a sweet-sour and juicy flavour, reminiscent of a mixture of kiwi, strawberry and pear, or a cucumber with a hint of acidity.
It is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which strengthen the immune system, improve skin and hair, and contribute to healthy bones, teeth and heart, as well as helping to prevent cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It is usually harvested from late summer to November.
In Spain, the opuntia grows wild in the southern regions and can also be found on the Costa Blanca.
It is mainly grown in the Canary Islands, Murcia and Andalusia.
The fruits are eaten fresh, scooping out the pulp with a spoon after removing the thorns, or they are processed to make jams, juices and preserves.
Before eating them, it is necessary to remove the small but sharp spines (glochids) by rubbing the fruits with a brush or cloth.
Of course, these are not all the fruits that can be found in markets, supermarkets and greengrocers in autumn and winter on the Costa Blanca, as local farmers and fruit shop owners strive to surprise and delight their customers all year round. That's why even in November you can find strawberries, blueberries, melons, pineapples and watermelons at affordable prices.
However, in this article we have considered the typical fruits of autumn and winter in Spain.