Sizzling Summer Fruit

Harry’s Berries Strawberries
These exclusive berries are the best-tasting berries around. Certified organic, they are grown in Oxford, California by a family who cares for them like babies. If you have ever had the privilege of eating a Harry’s Berry, then you know how delicious they are. If you haven’t tried one yet, hurry! They are only available for a limited time.


Finger Limes
Finger Limes are also called “citrus caviar” because of their caviar-like vesicles. Once the fruit is cut in half, the juice-filled vesicles will pop out. They are generally used for flavoring dishes, as a garnish, or for adding some amazing flavor and texture to a drink.


Peaches, Apricots and Nectarines
Summer stone fruit is here! Delicious and juicy, peaches, apricots and nectarines are full of flavor and at their peak of sweetness. Perfect as a snack or baked into desserts, peaches and nectarines can also be grilled or eaten on the go.

Peaches, apricots and nectarines are a healthy treat with almost no fat and few calories. One fruit is about 60 calories, containing vitamin C and fiber. Perfect for beach gatherings, pool parties and picnics. Available through September.


Organic Plum Bites
Delicious and juicy, our organic plum bites are the perfect snacking fruit. Not only are they good for snacks, but they make great desserts and even sauces. Try them in fruit salads, or fruit platters, too. They’re a good source of fiber and vitamin C—bring them along for a quick refreshing pick-me-up!


Organic EZ Open Sweet Young Coconuts
This innovative way to drink fresh coconut water is ingenious! Why bother with a bottle or a can when Mother Nature herself has already created the perfect beverage container: the actual coconut! Grown on an organic farm in Thailand, these coconuts are everything you could want and more; First, there’s the water… It is sweet, refreshing and thirst-quenching with a freshness you can’t find in any packaged products. Each coconut comes with its own straw and has an easy-open pop-top.

Coconuts are a versatile fruit (and vegetable) that is delicious in tropical drinks, or desserts. Coconut is a good source of fiber, minerals and potassium. Available year-round.


Summer Grapes
This July will be filled to the brim with delicious summer grapes! So many varieties to choose from, new and old. Keep your eyes open next month for some of the best tasting grapes, ever: Cotton Candy® Grapes. (Yes, they taste like cotton candy!) Grapes are a delicious snack, and are a good source of antioxidants making them even more perfect! Try them in salads, fruit platters, or as a garnish and enjoy them all summer long!


Baby Heirloom Tomatoes
Dating back before the early 1800s, heirloom tomatoes have been growing and pleasing palates for centuries. The nostalgic name "heirloom" deliciously connects us to days long gone. Generally, an heirloom variety is one that has been around for more than fifty years, can reproduce from seed and has a history of its very own. Recently heirloom tomatoes have made a welcome comeback as consumers are demanding tomatoes that offer good old-fashioned flavor. The peak season is June–September.


Kiwano Melons
Also known as the African horned melon, this very interesting piece of fruit contains a lime green, jelly-like inside with the texture of a cool cucumber. The taste is a subtle combination of cucumber, banana, melon and lime. The outer shell is spiky golden-orange and is often used as a serving dish filled with fruit salad, dip or other delicious recipes. Kiwano melons are also used to create exotic tropical drinks or delicious sauces for seafood, poultry and vegetables.

Kiwano melons last for several weeks without refrigeration. Once they “give” to the touch, they are ripe and ready to eat. Do not store them near apples or bananas, as these fruits will shorten their shelf life. They are low in calories with only 24 calories in 3½ ounces, and contain more potassium than a banana. They are also and excellent source of Vitamin C.


Mini Watermelons
These personal size melons are opening up a new segment of the marketplace. In the past, small families or single household buyers had to buy cut melon (not always perceived as fresh) or a whole melon that was then only partially eaten before being disposed of. As a result, this category of buyers didn't buy many watermelons.

With proper display and merchandising, the personal sized seedless watermelon is gaining an audience of their own from non-watermelon buyers. In addition, the fruit is packed single layer, (not stacked in the carton) much like honeydews in a very durable carton. The fruit itself has an extended shelf-life due to a very durable rind. In season almost year-round, with a peak in summer months.


Lychees
Lychees are round, beautiful rosy red to dark brown colored fruits, about 1-2”, encased in a thin bumpy shell. They are sometimes referred to as ‘Chinese Cherries.’ Lychees are considered a good luck fruit and are often given as gifts during Chinese New Year. The inside resembles a peeled grape and the taste is phenomenal! Lychees taste like a mixture of honey, strawberries and Muscat grapes.

Lychees also have a large, inedible seed inside, so use caution when eating. To eat a lychee, just crack the shell gently at the stem end; remove half of the shell and pop the lychee flesh into your mouth (or serving dish). Be sure to remove the seed. Lychees are delicious as a snack, in fruit salads, as a garnish or in stir-fry. They are best when purchased and eaten immediately, but can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days. Store them in a plastic bag with a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture. Lychees are low calorie and have very little fat. They are a good source of potassium and an excellent source of vitamin C.


Cherimoyas
Also called Custard Apple or Custard Fruit, this delicious heart-shaped fruit is a delicacy in the exotic fruit arena. They are a hand-pollinated fruit, which makes them a time-consuming commercial crop. However, since they are grown in so many areas now, supply is not a problem. The flesh of the cherimoya is cream-colored with large black inedible seeds. They have a flavor similar to a blend of strawberry, mango and pineapple. To eat one, simply cut it into wedges and spoon out the creamy flesh while discarding the seeds. They are generally eaten as is, but they can be used in drinks, fruit salads or desserts.

Cherimoyas should be kept at room temperature until ready to eat, and can be stored in the refrigerator once ripe for a few days. They are also a good source of vitamin B and fiber.