[1] Crunchy Asian pears were reserved for the nobility and the wealthy. Now, they are the most popular fruit in all of Asia per an American grower, Virginia Gold Orchard (photo © Wonderful Fruit).

[2] Born in the USA: The boysenberry is a cross among the European raspberry, European blackberry, American dewberry and American loganberry. The loganberry itself is a hybrid of the North American blackberry and the European raspberry. Thanks to American horticulturists for all that hard work (photo © Good Eggs)!

[3] The galia melon is a cross between a honeydew and a cantaloupe. The rind is netted like a cantaloupe, but the green flesh is like a honeydew. The flavor has notes of banana (photo © Melissa’s Produce).

While we can get much of our favorite produce year-round, fruits and vegetables in season taste better, are better environmentally (less fuel expended to import them from faraway places), and support American farmers.

Today, we focus on summer fruits. Tomorrow, summer vegetables.

Some of the items are harvested for only a few weeks; others are around for months. So peruse the list, note what you don’t want to miss, and add it to your shopping list.

The list was created by the Produce For Better Health Foundation. Take a look at their website, FruitsAndVeggies.org, for tips on better meal planning with fresh produce.

We’ve included the less-familiar produce in footnotes below (e.g., black crowberries).

And in the photos: fruits that most of us don’t eat often enough.
 
 
30+ SUMMER FRUITS TO PUT ON YOUR PLAATE

 
 
MORE SUMMER PRODUCE

 
 
________________

*Plus: Acerola/Barbados Cherry, Black Crowberry, Breadfruit, Elderberry, Loganberry, Longan, Loquat, Mulberry, Olallieberry, Rose Apple