What’s in season in July?
June was mostly about berries, but July is all about all fruit. Botanically speaking, a lot of leafy vegetables like lettuce and kale will go to seed in the summer heat, a process farmers call “bolting.” But as consumers, we’re generally more interested in the flowers that grow berries and stone fruits.
Fruits
In the Midwest, look out for heirloom strawberries – smaller and sweeter than their “everbearing" cousins – raspberries, blackberries, mulberries, gooseberries, and blueberries. Also remember that melons, cucumbers, and zucchini are all technically berries and in season, too!
July also means that stone fruit season is in full swing, so look out for peaches, nectarines, plums and apricots.
“Vegetables”
The flagship vegetables of July are actually all fruits, including tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. Green (unripe peppers) like jalapeno or serrano will be plentiful, as will colorful sweet bell peppers and Japanese shishito peppers.
Beans that are eaten in the shell like green beans and wax beans also join the party this time of year.
And in exciting news, Closed Loop will have cherry tomatoes available this year!
Flowers
Lots of our edible flowers love the long hot days, including sunflowers, begonia, and marigolds. We also grow herbs from the marigold family, such as Huacatay and Tangerine Lace.
How do you use July produce?
Summer vegetables love the grill (looking at you, eggplant and zucchini), but it’s also a great time to enjoy raw foods, like a fresh tomato salad.
July is also the canning and confection season, the time for making jams and jellies, pies or cobblers, or canning vegetables for later in the year. It wasn’t too long ago that Midwestern families would have to stock their pantries with shelf-stable produce to eat in the winter, so consider trying to make your own pickles or jam.
For the best of grilling and confection season, try cooking summer fruits into a bbq or hot sauce. Our in-house chef, Jake, strongly believes that peaches and tomatoes can be interchangeable in sauce recipes if you accommodate their differences - peach adobo would be a great example.
Keep the grill fired up, because coming in August - IT’S CORN!