For a better user experience based on the region you shop in, please allow InSeasonezine.com to access your location. By accepting, you are not permitting us to sell or use this location data in any other way.

Summer Produce Guide

Summer Produce Guide

Summer Produce Guide - Watermelon

Watermelon

Health Benefits: With its high water content and being rich in potassium (a natural electrolyte), watermelon is a perfect treat for staying hydrated during the summer heat.

Buy It: Look for a watermelon with a smooth, unblemished rind. When lifted, it should feel heavy for its size.

Serve It: Fresh watermelon needs no added seasonings and flavorings. It can be eaten all on its own, but it’s also a wonderful addition to salads, fruit cocktail and frozen drinks. Use it to make a refreshing sorbet or brush slices with oil and grill just until grill marks appear.

Fun Fact: Watermelon is related to cucumbers, pumpkins and squash.

Summer Produce Guide - Berries

Berries

Health Benefits: Berries may be small, but they pack a powerful punch of antioxidants. They are filled with vitamins A, C and E and flavonoids, which give them their brilliant color and protect against cancer, inflammation and heart disease.

Buy It: Select berries that are plump and vibrantly colored. Avoid containers with mold, stains or varieties with dull or wrinkled skin.

Serve It: For their full nutritional benefit, it’s best to eat berries raw. However, they will add vitamins, minerals and sweetness to dishes such as overnight oats, yogurt-covered berries, salads, desserts or frozen and blended into smoothies.

Fun Fact: According to research published in the journal Neurology, people who eat at least two servings of berries each week have a 25 percent less chance of developing Parkinson’s disease.

Summer Produce Guide - Mangoes

Mangoes

Health Benefits: Mangoes are a water dense fruit that are only 100 calories per cup. They have high levels of fiber, pectin and vitamin C which help lower cholesterol.

Buy It: The color of a mango doesn’t indicate how ripe it is. Give it a little squeeze –­ firm flesh with a little give means the mango is ripe.

Serve It: Eat mangoes out of hand as a healthy snack or add to salads, smoothies or salsas. The fruit has natural tenderizing properties so they’re the perfect addition to marinades and chutneys.

Fun Fact: Mangoes were first grown in India over 5,000 years ago and are now one of the world’s most popular fruits.

Summer Produce Guide - Tomatoes

Tomatoes

Health Benefits: Tomatoes are a low calorie vegetable that are low in fat and have no cholesterol. They are rich in lycopene, a compound known to make skin less sensitive to UV light damage.

Buy It: Pick tomatoes that have a bright red color and firm, wrinkle-free skin.

Serve It: Tomatoes are a staple of Mediterranean cuisine, often found in sauces, salads and soups. Add slices to burgers, sandwiches and pizza; sprinkle halved tomatoes with grated Parmesan cheese and oregano, then grill until the cheese melts; toss cherry tomatoes into fresh summer salads or add to kabobs.

Fun Fact: According to Guinness World Record, the heaviest tomato ever was 7 pounds, 12 ounces.

Summer Produce Guide - Cucumbers

Cucumbers

Health Benefits: Skip the multivitamin and eat a cucumber. This vegetable contains a number of B vitamins, folic acid, vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.

Buy It: Choose cucumbers that are firm with rounded edges and a smooth, dark green skin.

Serve It: Many of the nutrients are found in a cucumber’s skin, so leave the peel on to receive their full health benefits. Use thin slices to flavor water, or use to make pickles, a chilled soup or tzatziki (a Greek condiment made with grated cucumber, plain yogurt, olive oil, vinegar and fresh dill).

Fun Fact: Cucumbers can eliminate bad breath. Hold a slice on the roof of your mouth for 30 seconds and let the phytochemicals in cucumbers kill odor-causing bacteria.

  visit us on Facebook visit us on Twitter visit us on Pinterest see our videos on youtube