The Complete Summer Produce Guide
Your wallet and tastebuds will thank you if you know what produce is in season at your local grocery store. Although it is possible to find most types of produce all year round, their taste is incomparable when they are in season, and often when produce is in season, it is available at a lower price. For example, a tomato in the middle of winter cannot match the juicy and vibrant taste of a tomato in the summer.
Summer is also the perfect time to stock up on fresh blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries by the pint or quart. If you are a strawberry lover, you will find the sweetest and ripest strawberries until their season ends in mid-July. Stone fruits such as apricots, plums, and peaches also peak during the summer. Yummy sour cherries are only available in July in most of the United States, and blackberries, raspberries, and sweet cherries will be out of season by August, so be sure to enjoy them fresh while you can and freeze what is left over.
But summertime isn’t just for fresh fruits – it is also the perfect time to savor the most delicious tomatoes, the sweetest corn on the cob, the freshest lettuce and cucumbers, and summer squash like zucchini. These seasonal vegetables, along with all the yummy fruits listed above, are a must-try during the summer.
To help you determine which produce is the best now, we have compiled a list of produce in season through most of the summer months. Using this list, you can plan your own grocery list and recipes accordingly, taking advantage of the freshest and highest quality produce available. Here is a list of all the fruits and vegetables in season over the summer:
Summer Fruits and Vegetables:
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Cantaloupe
- Honeydew melon
- Tomatoes
- Sour cherries
- Summer squash
- Zucchini
- Watermelon
- Cucumbers
- Lettuce
- Shell beans
- Okra
- Eggplant
- Corn
- Plums
- Peaches
- Nectarines
Toward the end of summer, the following fruits and vegetables come into season and last into early fall:
- Figs
- Beets
- Chile peppers
- Bell peppers
Produce That Is Not Seasonal
Choosing which fruits and vegetables to eat and when can be confusing, especially since some popular produce like carrots, potatoes, apples, bananas, and lemons are available all year round. Produce that is available year-round occurs because of different growing regions, greenhouses use, modern storage, and imports. Depending on where you live, there might be slight seasonal variations. However, most tropical fruits are usually consistent since their home environment is mostly warm. Squash, certain beets, and the onion family also typically grow consistently and can be stored better than other produce.
Shopping for Summer Produce in Memphis
At South Point Grocery, we ensure our customers always get the freshest and most delicious produce. Our seasonal produce is tasty and affordable at its ripest. Nutrients are also better stored in fresh produce, so it is a win all the way around when you shop for produce that is in season at South Point Grocery. If you have yet to visit our store, we invite you to visit us and check out our variety of produce options, among many other delicious goods. We are conveniently located at 136 Webster Avenue in the South Main Arts District and even offer live music on our patio. In addition, we hope you will continue reading our blogs, where we will continue to keep you informed about what is in season for fall and winter.