The Best of Summer Fruit

Peaches

Here are some things to keep in mind when buying peaches:

• Look for peaches that are not green; green peaches were picked before they had a chance to ripen. Depending on the variety, they should look white, yellow or have a red blush
• Peaches should have some “give” when lightly pressed. Hard peaches won’t ripen much when you get them home 
• Smell before you buy – peaches should smell sweet and like a peach. If they don’t have much of an aroma, they won’t have much flavor
• Need peaches for a recipe? Here are some handy measures: 2 medium peaches per cup of slices; 4 medium peaches per cup of purée and 3 medium peaches per pound

Nectarines

Here are some tips for getting the most out of your nectarines

• Look for nectarines that have few blemishes on the skin and have yellow patches on them
• Avoid very hard or dull nectarines. They should be barely soft when pressed. They can be left out for 2 to 3 days to get softer, then refrigerated to extend their life
• For a quick summer treat, serve nectarine slices with vanilla ice cream and raspberry sauce. It’s easy and delicious

Apricots

Apricots are available in the U.S. from May through August.

• Look for fruit that has a deep orange color and is soft but not mushy when pressed
• Apricots are an excellent source of vitamin A and a good source of vitamin C
• Apricots are excellent in salads, smoothies or sliced on cereal