6 Summer Seasonal Fruits You Don’t Want to Miss

Here are some summer fruits you may have overlooked.

Summer fruit is some of the best of the year. Here's a list of some in-season fruit to enjoy your summer with a fresh, nutritious, and fruity splash. Visit your local farmer’s market or speak with the produce manager at your local supermarket to find out what’s freshest every week.

The vibrant color of tender apricots gives away their rich content of beta-carotene. Beta-carotene and vitamin C both abundant in apricots, act as antioxidants in the body. Apricots are also a good source of fiber and potassium. Tote a couple of apricots with you to the gym (along with your water bottle, of course) and enjoy them as convenient pre- or post-workout snack.

Berries are in season and bursting with flavor. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, huckleberries, and more. All are high in fiber and vitamin C. Berries are also the lowest sugar fruit you can eat! The deep red and purple color of the berries indicates the presence of the anthocyanadins. Cherries are another summer ripe fruit that contain these wholesome nutrients as well. 

Summer is the season for fresh figs. Fresh or dried, figs are one of the highest fruit sources of fiber, and they also contain significant amounts of potassium (great for replenishing losses in sweat), calcium, and iron. Fresh figs are great on their own or to top a salad or even a veggie pizza!

The tropical mangoes and papayas are irresistibly mouthwatering summer fruits. Succulent mangoes are rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C and fiber. In fact, just half a mango contains over 100 percent of the recommended daily intake of beta-carotene. Papaya is another rich source of beta-carotene, vitamin C, and fiber, and also contains potassium and folate. Folate is best known for its need during pregnancy, but it’s also important to note that it helps supports cardiovascular health.

Plums and peaches are ripe and ready these balmy months. Luscious peaches and plums have beta-carotene and vitamin C as well as fiber. The skins of purple and red plums contain anthocyanidins, which are potent antioxidants.

Last but not least, what would summer be without ice-cold, refreshing watermelon. All the melons, including cantaloupe, casaba, and honeydew, are summer fruits. Cantaloupe with its peachy-orange flesh is rich in beta-carotene and vitamin C. The casaba melon contains vitamin C and potassium, and the honeydew is a good source of vitamin C. Juicy watermelon is a rich source of beta-carotene and vitamin C, and a good source of lycopene- the antioxidant that has been shown to prevent prostate cancer. 

With so many delectable fruits to choose from, there's no reason not to get the minimum five servings a day. Bring easy to carry fruits with you everywhere: to school, work, gym, baseball game, picnics, and parties. Explore the wide variety of natural flavors at every meal and as refreshing snacks. So, whether you're exercising or just trying to stay cool, there's nothing quite as tasty and nutritious as beating the heat with the thirst-quenching fruits of summer.

With the abundance of choices this season, every day this summer can be a sweet experience.