Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice
Trader Joe's is decorated in the Fall spirit. Photo by Nina Glick
As the leaves begin to fall and the skies slowly turn grey, Trader Joe’s prepares for their most popular season of the year: a new line of fall-flavored items hitting the shelves. From their sweet Pumpkin Cheesecake Croissants to their savory Butternut Squash Risotto, the grocery store has become a cultural event more than just a weekly grocery trip.
College students in particular have been hopping on the trend. “I shop at Trader Joe’s because it provides cheaper and quicker options as a college student,” said Kira Whetstone ’27. “They have more ready-made meals that help me stay healthy while keeping up with school and activities.”
Due to their affordable prices, unique products and TikTok hauls, students crowd the aisles for their unique pumpkin-themed dinners and maple-flavored treats.
“I’m originally from Hawaii, and we don’t have a Trader Joe’s location there, so I always enjoy being able to grab snacks and foods for the dorm,” said Taylor Malinger ’28.
The Trader Joe’s culture is so popular that some have created social media accounts solely for reviewing their products, such as @traderjoeslist, @traderjoestalia and @traderjoesnew. With follower counts ranging 250,000 to nearly two million, the videos consist of showcasing the newest items, creating polls for their fans to vote for their favorite items and even doing their own taste tests on camera.
These influencers have played a major role in helping Trader Joe’s capitalize on the fall shopping craze. Their hauls and reviews don’t just showcase new products, they build excitement which drives shoppers to stores the moment a new fall-flavored item hits the shelves.
“I personally love that Trader Joe’s takes returns on food items even after they’ve been bought, and I love their pumpkin-flavored desserts – especially their sheet cake!” says Tamanna Agarwal ’26.
The Trader Joe’s obsession isn’t just limited to food. In April 2025, they released their limited-edition Mini Pastel Canvas Tote Bags in pink, purple, green and blue. The bags were priced only at $2.99, and lines went out the door bright and early in the morning of the release. Shortly after they sold out, resellers began to market them for hundreds and thousands of dollars on third-party websites.
With spooky season on the way, Trader Joe’s launches a Halloween-themed mini tote bag on October 8th.
Prior to the official announcement, Trader Joe’s obsessed TikTokers took to posting videos speculating the release date, limit per customer and color options. Due to the previous sellout of pastel tote bags, many expect to see more crowds in store for the items due to the fall enthusiasm.
The arrival of fall at Trader Joe’s means pumpkin-flavored everything—and for employees, a mix of excitement and exhaustion.
“Moving from the slower summer seasons at Trader Joe’s, I noticed quite a big pickup in new item spirit and the number of customers coming into our store,” said LuLu Hanna, a Trader Joe’s employee. “The fall season leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas happens to be one of the busiest times for Trader Joe’s, and there is a lot of excitement from customers.”
Despite the chaos from customers rushing to buy the newest pumpkin-flavored snack, the employees also have a collection of their favorite fall items. As a loyal employee who gets to see all of the items, LuLu recommends the Pumpkin Brioche and Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese.
Whether it’s influencers posting their latest hauls, young adults camping out for the next viral tote bag or employees stocking shelves of pumpkin-flavored everything, Trader Joe’s fall season has become a shared ritual of comfort and excitement. Trader Joe’s isn’t just selling groceries, it’s selling autumn itself.