The Simple Guide to Eat Seasonally this Summer

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Summer is peak season for fresh produce. A season of local abundance most especially. While the produce section of the local grocery store likely doesn’t change much season to season, it is during the summer months that we can usually gorge on fresh, local produce more easily than other seasons.

This is the time of year to hit the local farmers market and stock up on all the in-season foods.

If seasonal eating is a new concept to you, summer is the perfect time to get into the habit and this seasonal produce guide will help you make the most of it all!

Location, Location, Location

What’s local and in season in Florida is not the same as Montana in June (or any other month for that matter). That is to say that unless you’re looking at guide specific to you geographic location, this list will vary quite a bit.

Go to the farmer’s market, ask local growers what’s ripe and available each week. This is the best and easiest way to eat what’s in season for specific spots.

That being said, each season, summer included has plenty of crossover and similarity. The following is a list of summer produce generally available just that it will likely be available earlier in the season in the south and later in the north.

And remember just because you can get something year-round in the grocery store, it doesn’t necessarily mean that item is in-season. Granted, it’s in-season somewhere but likely that somewhere is thousands of miles away and took a truck many days to reach you. Seek local first for the best possible understanding of seasonal eating.

Summer Vegetables

Summer is the best season for finding incredible fresh seasonal vegetables in most cases. There tends to be quite a variety from which we can be quite creative in our kitchen.

Tomatoes

Without a doubt, this is the quintessential summer food. Take advantage of fresh tomatoes that are homegrown or from local farmers whenever possible. These will beat anything you get shipped in from somewhere else in winter.

They can be used in a variety of different and delicious ways. Toss the cherry tomatoes into salads, slice the beefsteak types for sandwiches.

Green Beans

Fresh beans are flavorful and tender in a way that they can never be found when canned or frozen. They also come in a variety of colors, green, yellow, purple. See what local farmers offer and try them steamed, in stir-frys, and more!

Summer Squash

There is, of course, zucchini. Beyond that, there is yellow squash, pattypan squash, eggplant, and so many different shapes and sizes to zucchini. Find what’s local and unique. Generally speaking each can be used like you would zucchini.

Corn

Fresh, summer sweet corn is truly a delight. Look for local growers that are growing heirloom corn for something special to savor and enjoy. Look for something local instead of something shipped it from far way to truly understand the complexities of this flavorful gem.

Peppers

Hot and sweet types abound. Most of us are easily familiar with green bell peppers but there are so many different, colors, shapes, and flavors to peppers. Try the hot and sweet types to find your favorites. They are much more frugal in the summer than when shipped in from some far away place in the middle of winter. Eat them raw or cooked and savor their frugal abundance.

Cucumbers

Short and long, bitter and sweet, this summer experience the flavor of truly fresh and local cucumbers in salads, sandwiches, and soups.

Summer Fruits

The sweet and juicy fruits of the season tend to be among the most favorite summer foods. This is prime time to get the sweetest and most delicious fruits.

Melons

Probably the sweetest score of the summer season are juicy melons. Skip the bland seedless watermelons at the grocery store and look for something different. It seems that most areas have a local specialty. Eat those for every meal and enjoy it until they can’t be found again until next year.

Cherries

Eat the sweet cherries by the handful as an easy and healthy snack or blend them into dark sweet smoothies. Use the sour cherries to make pies or turn into sauces for topping ice cream and cakes.

Apricots, Peaches, & Nectarines

While each of these stone fruits have a distinct flavor, they can almost be used interchangeably. Don’t the like fuzz of peaches, eat nectarines.

Berries

Cultivated and wild berries of all sizes, shapes, textures, and colors abound. Harvest, buy and pick until the heart’s content and enjoy the fresh, nutritional bounty.

Summer Meal Planning

This is the season of hot days. No one wants to spend hot summer days, slaving over a hot stove that only makes the house hotter. Keep the summer meals quick, simple, and cooling as much as possible. The simple nature of this kind of meal plan allows us to savor summer even more.

Salads

These are not necessarily the same green salads of the spring season. Have the plate of leafy greens but top it heavily with cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and other veggies, top them simply with fresh herbs and a drizzle of olive oil and some balsamic vinegar. Go for pasta salads mixed with pesto and all the bits of radishes, fresh corn, peppers, and more from the season. Don’t forget the straight up fruit salad, either.

Cook Outside

Fire up the grill. Cook over an open fire. Skip the kitchen and call everyone outside for a meal that is prepared and eaten under the sun. The flavors of the food are always different when cooked outside and it keeps the house from getting too hot.

Simple & Cooling

Keep the main courses simple and cooling as much as possible. Pan fry meats to keep the house from getting to hot or grill them outside. Serve them simply alongside salads or simple chopped or grilled veggies.

Focus on serving things with high water content to keep everyone well hydrated as the heat takes old.

Ferment

Pop all those fresh fruits and vegetables into a brine for a healthy fermented snack. Ferments are a great way to fix up plates of bread or crackers with some cheese and more raw fruits and veggies for simple, easy meals that are filling and nourishing.

Drinks

Summer is a great time to experiment with all the fresh flavors from the earth to make refreshing and delicious drinks. Unlike winter when we’re brewing hot tea from dried herbs, the warmer months allow us to harvest from the earth and mix up delightful combinations for iced tea, lemonade, and more.

Make iced tea or shrubs for nourishing drinks that are cheaper than anything bought at the grocery store. They can easily be made from seasonal fruits and herbs for flavor and health in a variety of ways that is unlike anything else you might try.

Desserts

Make smoothies from fresh fruits with lots of ice, add some maple syrup or honey to make them even sweeter. Top ice cream or sorbet with fresh fruits. On cooler days when you feel like baking, use the summer abundance for homemade pies.

Use the Weather Naturally

If there’s a rainy or old day, use that day to bake up the zucchini lasagna or mixed berry pie. Allow the natural rhythm of temperatures to influence your kitchen habits as much as possible. Cook the things that take longer or require the oven in the early morning hours.

Use the slow cooker instead of the oven to prevent the house from getting too hot and cook a roast that can easily be served as cold sandwiches with the leftovers.

Preserve the Season

It’s always a good idea to save a bit of summer for later. Do as much or as little as you are inclined.

Can a raspberry pie filling for easy pie baking during the holiday season. Make a big batch of zucchini calzones and freeze some for eating later. Feel free to can up a multitude of jars of ripe peaches, if that’s your thing. However, you can feel free to skip the canning and just freeze a bag or two of fresh blueberries for winter smoothies or oatmeal later. Grate some of the summer squash and freeze it for winter zucchini bread baking.

Just a few things saved can honestly go such a long way in not only increasing appreciation for summer but also winter and allowing ourselves to truly sink deeply into simple, seasonal living and eating.

Summer is the season of abundance and truly that plentitude makes meal planning and eating easy. Keep it easy, don’t worry about the fancy preparation or complicated recipes. Let the fresh flavors shine and enjoy every bite.

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