A Guide to The Summer's Most Delicious Produce

Sunny weather, refreshing cocktails, cookouts with friends and family… Summer has a lot going for it, but colorful and delicious produce is usually on the top of this list. Eating seasonally has always been an excellent way to not just treat your taste buds to new, fresh flavors but to also do your mental and physical health a world of good – thanks to all the nutrients. Plus, you may even reduce your carbon footprint⁽¹⁾ in the process and give the environment, local economy and personal budget a boost. How great is that?

Now that summer’s in full swing, you have every excuse in the world to gorge on the summer’s most delicious produce, from nutrient-dense fruits to downright delicious vegetables. Just fill your shopping cart with the following options and make your summer meals more appetizing than ever.

Summer’s Most Delicious Produce

Fruit

1. Apricots

Looking for a versatile and nutritious addition to your summer cooking? Then, apricots⁽²⁾ are a no-brainer. But, don’t let its colorful, fluffy exterior and sweet taste fool you. This orange-hued summer fruit packs a serious nutritional punch. From loads of slow-digesting fiber⁽³⁾ and vitamin C⁽⁴⁾ to high amounts of mood-boosting potassium⁽⁵⁾, apricots make for a phenomenal summer produce.

Eat ’em: Add freeze dried apricots by Mother Earth Products to your summer salads, smoothies, cereal, pancakes and yogurt for a refreshing summer treat.

2. Cantaloupe

What’s better than drinking water on those hot summer days? Eating your water, of course! Containing more than 90% water⁽⁶⁾, cantaloupe is the most delicious way to stay hydrated when the heat wave strikes. This summer produce also contains a hefty dose of beta-carotene⁽⁷⁾ which protects your skin against the sun’s harmful UV rays. Could it get any better?

Eat ’em: Enjoy cantaloupe raw as part of a fruit salad, smoothie or yogurt parfait.

3. Cherries

They work well in everything from fruit salads and desserts to refreshing drinks. Cherries are -without a doubt- one of the summer’s best produce. And here’s a fun fact: These bite-sized sweet treats don’t just taste great, but they also contain massive amounts of anthocyanins⁽⁸⁾ (a.k.a. antioxidants) and melatonin⁽⁹⁾. That means that they are perfect for reducing inflammation⁽¹⁰⁾ and improving the quality of your sleep⁽¹¹⁾, especially on those hot summer nights when everything feels uncomfortable. So, ready to put that cherry on top?

Eat ’em: Throw freeze dried cherries by Mother Earth products in a smoothie, fruit salad or granola, or enjoy them as part of a summer dessert.

4. Grapes

A safe bet to sweeten any hot summer day, grapes are packed with all the right nutrients. Between high concentrations of phenolics, antioxidants⁽¹²⁾, vitamins, and resveratrol⁽¹³⁾, grapes are known to prevent several conditions such as skin aging⁽¹⁴⁾, heart diseases⁽¹⁵⁾, even cancer⁽¹⁶⁾. So, why not add this grape (pun intended!) fruit into your summer menus?

Eat ’em: Toss freeze dried red whole grapes or red grape halves by Mother Earth Products into a chicken salad for a fruity twist or make them part of your smoothie or morning cereal. You can also top your favorite ice cream with a spoonful for some extra crunchiness.

5. Peaches

In all their fuzzy glory, peaches⁽¹⁷⁾ serve as a tasty, low-calorie summer treat while nourishing your body with hefty doses of vitamin C, fiber, and potassium. What’s more, they are rich in antioxidants⁽¹⁸⁾ which not only reduce inflammation but also prevent skin cell damage. That’s particularly useful as the damaging UV rays take a toll on your skin all summer long.

Eat ’em: Sneak freeze dried peach slices by Mother Earth products into various desserts, such as ice cream, pancakes, etc. or grill them along with other fruit for a decadent summer BBQ treat.

6. Strawberries

Newsflash: Strawberries and summer go hand in hand. And the best part? Even though you can eat them as-is, these bite-sized treats work well into various meals due to their tangy-sweet flavor and nutrient-dense profile. In fact, just one cup of this summer produce packs enough vitamin C, fiber and manganese to lower cholesterol⁽¹⁹⁾ and shield your skin⁽²⁰⁾ against the sun’s harmful rays.

Eat ’em: Top your favorite ice cream, pancakes, etc. or sneak them into your summer salads.

Vegetables

7. Bell Peppers

Crunchy and super delicious, bell peppers are every cook’s secret super ingredient. This colorful bunch contains lots of vitamins (A, C and K) as well as potassium and heart-friendly lycopene⁽²¹⁾ (especially in the red variety). So, how about you add some color and a healthy crunch to your summer dishes?

Eat ’em: Fold dehydrated bell peppers by Mother Earth Products into your omelet, top your pizza, or sneak them into salads and pasta dishes.

8. Corn

Corn screams summer. From BBQ side dishes to everyday salads, this delicious summer produce is always there to add some color and flavor to your meals. But, besides tasting and looking awesome, corn packs several good-for-you nutrients such as protein, magnesium, and iron. It’s also rich in carotenoids⁽²²⁾ which enhances vision⁽²³⁾.

Eat ’em: Add dehydrated or freeze dried super sweet corn by Mother Earth Products into your salads, stir fries, etc. or enjoy as a side dish with a squirt of lime and a tiny bit of cayenne pepper and salt.

9. Cucumber

Want to make your meals “cooler”? Then, cucumber is the way to go. This summer produce consists of more than 95% water⁽²⁴⁾, adding some serious freshness in your dishes. Plus, cucumber is packed with phytonutrients⁽²⁵⁾ which not only lower cholesterol but also prevent diseases such as diabetes.

Eat ’em: Add freeze dried cucumber by Mother Earth products in practically every salad.

10. Eggplant

Serving as an excellent source of fiber, eggplant is a dream come true for those of you want to cut back on meat but are not willing to discount on flavor. This nutrient-dense summer produce also contains lots of antioxidants, flavonoids, and phytochemicals which not only boost your heart health⁽²⁶⁾ but also prevent cancer⁽²⁷⁾.

Eat ’em: Sneak them into lasagnas and stir fries or use them as a low-carb alternative instead of bready crust on pizza evenings.