As the fall season approaches, the appearance of seasonal fall foods begin to arise. There are many items that individuals associate with fall such as pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin pie, and pumpkin spice cookies. These items convey different emotions to a multitude of individuals.

For some people there are specific fall items that remind them of the season or that they enjoy the most during this time. Sophomore Donald Ferguson explains how the intertwining of pumpkin spiced lattes and the fall season affects him.

“The Pumpkin Spice Starbucks Latte hits different. I simply couldn’t put it into words, the aroma and the aesthetic given the time of year in conjunction with the flavor profile procures an inexplicable experience of nostalgia,” Ferguson said.

There are specific memories that come with certain products that individuals consume during Autumn. Debate and Advanced English teacher Beth Simmonds explains how drinking apple cider during this season brings her nostalgia.

“Nothing like going apple picking with thirteen of your cousins. You collect the apples and then you bring them back and in rural upstate New York, these pumpkin patches will open up their apple cider presses,” Simmonds said. “There’s a huge Amish and Mennonite influence in the area, and so to go out to these farms, they’re modern farms, but they’ve got that influence. And so these big hand presses and you get to watch the apple that you picked off the tree you get turned into apple cider. And then they add the cinnamon and the spices and heat it up,” Simmonds said. 

As people associate food with certain seasons and holidays there is some comparison between two different products that are consumed during two different seasons. Simmonds compares apple cider to a cup of hot chocolate that many drink during the winter time.

“You can drink it right there and it’s cold and crisp. And by the time you’ve done all the picking and stuff, you’re cold. And so just like a hot chocolate after you’ve been snowball fighting, right it’s like that perfect drink. And so for me, I can have an apple cider anywhere my family does Wasssail, it’s apple cider with spices on it at Christmas time every year because it brings back those crisp fall, family gathering kind of emotions, memories,” Simmonds said.

Some individuals only eat certain products during the autumn due to that item holding memories that only occur during this time of year. Junior Rachel Hanson explains how she only enjoys pumpkin pie and bread only during fall.

“Whenever I think of fall, a big thing for me is definitely pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread. These are the things I only eat during the fall season. I feel like it’s just like special memories to help make it and then just all sit down together and just eat it together because I don’t really eat pumpkin except when it’s the fall season and I’m really in the mood like I really feel like that season,” Hanson said.

While some individuals only enjoy certain foods during this season, others want to be able to enjoy these items throughout the year, but still enjoy the vibes of the season they are associated with. Junior Jayden Howard explains how she believes that seasonal products should be sold throughout the year. 

“I think it should be sold all year round in all honesty. I think I would still associate it with fall because they’re fall themed but I would still enjoy it all year round because they taste good,” Howard said.

Foods such as pumpkin spice lattes, apple cider, and pumpkin flavored treats are all items that many individuals associate with the fall season. These products can also bring nostalgia, memories, and emotions to many.