Summer is in full force and that means farmers markets are over-flowing with fruits and vegetables fresh from the earth. There are a lot of great things in season throughout the summer, but some in particular are at their peak now and you’ll want to get your hands on them, ASAP. Check out these seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Tomatoes
Is there anything better then a plump and juicy tomato? Bypass the mealy, tasteless things you find in the supermarket and pick up a sun-ripened heirloom variety from your local farmers market. They’re full of flavor and rich in vitamin C and lycopene, a powerful antioxidant.
Lita Squash
Also known as acusta squash, lita squash are pale green in color with a mellow, lemony flavor. They’re at farmers markets everywhere right about now with other summer squash like zucchini and yellow. Pick up a few and prepare them in anyway that you would zucchini. My personal favorite is raw, shredded in a salad with almonds, basil, olive oil, lemon, and sea salt. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
Peaches
One of my most vivid childhood memories is making peach ice cream with my dad on the back porch of our house when I was a kid. We’d wait until August when the peaches at the farmers market were at their best and then sit around the kitchen table for hours with our sweet treasure, peeling and dicing. To this day, I still wait until August before even considering a peach purchase. Thursday, I picked up my first batch from a farm stand in downtown Manhattan. Using my shirt to wipe them clean, I had eaten three by the time I walked back to my apartment. They were just that good.
Berries
Raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries – they’re all in season now and best when picked fresh. Take a Saturday afternoon, find a U-Pick berry farm, and have a few snacks while you work. Berries have a low glycemic index compared to other fruit and are also high in fiber and antioxidants. You can’t go wrong.
