Summer Abundance Continues in Our Produce Department

Nearly all of your favorite fruits and vegetables are still in season in August. Cherries, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries will be out of season early this month. Blackberries last a bit longer, often through September.

Nectarines, peaches, and melons are the best fruits to buy this month. They’re in their peak season, and they should be sweet and flavorful throughout August.

Yellow peaches have that characteristic peach flavor that’s also bright and acidic. As they

ripen on the tree, they become sweeter and less acidic, and the flesh turns a deep yellow. Yellow peaches hold their shape better than white peaches when baked.

White peaches have pale yellow flesh and are sweeter than yellow peaches. They are also less acidic, which is preferred by some people, while others describe them as having less depth of flavor. White peaches tend to fall apart when baked, so use them fresh.

Thanks to their genetics, nectarines are a type of peach that doesn’t have fuzzy skins. They are very similar in flavor but are often sweeter and more aromatic. Nectarines are usually firmer than peaches, so they work well when baked.

When shopping for peaches and nectarines, it’s hard to know how they will taste. Your best bet is to use your nose. The more aromatic they smell, the better they will taste.

Watermelons are the hardest to pick out—sometimes they are sweet and flavorful, other times dull and bland. The best trick to selecting ripe watermelons is to look at the patch on the bottom where they sat on the ground. The spot should be a creamy-yellow color, indicating it was left on the vine long enough to fully ripen. If the spot is really white or whitish-green, it was picked before it fully developed its flavor.

Cantaloupe is easier to pick out. When fully ripe, it naturally detaches from the vine. Cantaloupe harvested this way will have a slightly indented spot where the stem used to be. If it looks like the stem was cut or torn from the vine, it was picked too early. Another indicator of ripe cantaloupe is the color under the ‘netting’ texture. It should have a golden hue rather than green. It should also have a floral scent.

Honeydew melons are best picked out by their smell. They should be a warm cream color or even creamy yellow. The rind will also be tacky rather than clean and smooth.

As always, our produce staff will be here to assist you if you have any questions or need help picking some ripe fruits.

ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR SUMMER!