Summer time produce has a more to offer us than just great taste to enjoy. Fruits and vegetable hold their nutritional content at the highest the fresher they are. Their taste is at their peak, as well as their vibrant colors and smells.

One of the first vegetables to appear on the stands is the cold crops. These are vegetables that are planted when the temperatures are colder to start. Lettuce and greens are in this category. They provide great taste and vibrant color to our diets. They are full of fiber. We all need more fiber. Lettuce, dandelion, spinach and other dark leafy greens provide us with sources of calcium, Vitamins A and C. The rule of these vegetables is usually the darker green they are the better they are for you. Many stores offer a great variety of green spring mix loaded with a vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Who can forget one of the very first fruits of the season, Strawberries? These little red gems are a favorite in many families. Who doesn’t have memories of strawberry shortcake, homemade strawberry jam or just plucking these fruits and popping them in your mouth on one of the first days of summer? Strawberries are packed with Vitamin C. They also are a source of calcium and iron. Eight medium strawberries are considered a serving with only forty-five calories. They are great for people on diets that are craving sweets. Their iron content helps to treat those that are tired from anemia. Strawberries are also a source of Magnesium and potassium. These are important minerals for heart health and other body functions. So eat up, these things are good for you.

The king of the summer time fruits has to be the melon. Who can picture a picnic without slices of watermelon or honeydew? These wonderful, juicy fruits are delicious forms of desert at any gathering. These fruits are full of vitamin A and C. Watermelon is also full of beta-carotene. Honeydews are full of Vitamins A and C as well as magnesium, potassium and calcium.

These are only a few selections of the great variety of summer produce that is available. The fresher they are the better the nutrients. There is also the fact that fresh fruits and vegetables bought from your local farmers market is considered by many to be better for you. Grown locally you can speak to the people who actually planted and harvested your food. You know you are getting the freshest available. Many are grown with little or no pesticides. It is also a wonderful way to support your local community and economy. So shop your farmers market. Try something new in the fruit and vegetable isle.

Enjoy summer time produce knowing you are getting great taste and nutrition.

For a great salad recipe, check out our Just for You article.