The summer season offers so many great-tasting fruits and vegetables, right in our own “backyards.” All across America local produce can be found in most grocery stores. Did you know that most fruits and vegetables are cheaper during the summer? It’s true. When certain fruits and vegetables are in-season there’s more to be had and less traveling time involved in getting them to stores and into our favorite neighborhood produce department. Here are three of summer’s most budget-friendly and popular fruits and vegetables:
1. Berries – Whether you’re craving a stack of whole wheat pancakes topped with fresh blueberries for breakfast or a yogurt parfait with fresh raspberries and granola for dessert, berries are a great choice for adding delightful taste, texture and nutrition to your summer dishes. Blueberries are an excellent source of vitamin K; raspberries are an excellent source of fiber, manganese, and vitamin C; and strawberries are an excellent source of manganese and vitamin C.
2. Peppers – Grilled sweet bell peppers are a popular must-have accompaniment to a variety of summertime dishes, from kebabs to topping sizzling steaks. Sweet bell peppers are rich in fiber and vitamins A, B6, and C.
3. Tomatoes – It’s hard to imagine green salads, pizzas, and BLTs without farm fresh tomatoes! Nutritionally, tomatoes are an outstanding source of lycopene, a carotene and carotenoid pigment and phytochemical that helps protect cells against damage from the free radicals formed when body cells burn oxygen for energy. Tomatoes also are an excellent source of vitamins A, C and K.