SAMPLING
the best summer produce
with this guide to choosing fresh melons, citrus and more at Hy-Vee
is easier than ever
Hy-Vee Short Cuts fruits and vegetables are prewashed and precut, ready for you to enjoy.
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Fresh Picks
how to select & store delicious summer fruit
Summer is peak season for melons, berries and stone fruits, so they taste especially delicious in the warmer months. Summer is also one of the best times to try new fruits or pick up seasonal favorites for healthy snacks and juicy, mouthwatering desserts.
melons & tropicals
stone fruit
berries
citrus
Find the highest quality produce at Hy-Vee, no matter what you crave.
melons & tropicals
stone fruit
berries
citrus
Store: Unripe at room temp; ripe in fridge up to 5 days
cantaloupe
Flavor: Sweet, tender
Choose: Fruit that’s heavy for its size with golden beige color underneath the light webbing and fresh, fragrant smell
Store: Unripe at room temp; ripe in fridge up to 5 days
Choose: Fruit that’s heavy for its size with dull, pale yellow skin and fresh, fragrant smell
Flavor: Light, sweet and subtle
Honeydew Melons
Store: Whole ripe watermelon in fridge up to 1 week
Choose: Fruit that’s heavy for its size with dull skin and large yellow spot; should make a deep thud sound when tapped with fingers
Flavor: Sweet, refreshing
WaterMelons
Store: At room temp up to 1 week
Choose: Fruit that gives slightly when gently pressed with thumb
Flavor: Sweet, slightly acidic
Kiwis
Store: Whole ripe fruit in fridge up to 5 days
Choose: Fruit that’s heavy for its size with fresh green leaves and strong sweet smell; should be easy to pluck one leaf from crown
Flavor: Very sweet, slight tang
Pineapples
Store: Unwashed in fridge up to 1 week
Choose: Shiny and plump with fresh green stems and dark color
Flavor: Sweet or sour-sweet
Cherries
Store: At room temp up to 5 days
Choose: Dark orange fruit with no brown or green spots, fruity smell and that give slightly when gently squeezed
Flavor: Slightly tart
Nectarines
Store: At room temp up to 5 days
Choose: Fruits with a well-defined crease, fruity smell and that give slightly when gently squeezed
Flavor: Sweet, slightly tart when unripe
PEACHES
Store: At room temp up to 5 days
Choose: Fruits with vibrant skin color, dusty white powder on skin and that give slightly when gently squeezed
Flavor: Sweet to tart
Plums
Store: At room temp up to 5 days
Choose: Fruits that have a fruity smell and give slightly when gently squeezed
Flavor: Sweet, slightly floral
Mangoes
Store: At room temp up to 5 days
Choose: Fruits with no green color, strong fruity smell and that give slightly to gentle pressure when held in palm of hand
Flavor: Tart, tangy, slightly sweet
Apricots
Store: Unwashed in fridge up to 3 days
Choose: Glossy, uncrushed fruit with deep color
Flavor: Sweet and slightly tart
Blackberries
Store: Unwashed in fridge up to 4 days
Choose: Brightly colored firm, plump fruit with fresh green stems attached and no white coloring
Flavor: Sweet, may be slightly sour
Strawberries
Store: Unwashed in fridge up to 2 weeks
Choose: Uncrushed fruit with silvery coating and no red color
Flavor: Slightly sweet and acidic
Blueberries
Store: Unwashed in fridge up to 4 days
Choose: Bright, uniformly colored uncrushed berries
Flavor: Sweet and tart
Raspberries
Store: In fridge up to 2 weeks
Choose: Fruit that’s heavy for its size with bright orange color; should feel firm when gently squeezed
Flavor: Sweet with slight tartness
navel oranges
Store: At room temp up to 1 week
Choose: Look for medium to large fruit with pale, buttery yellow skin that feels heavy for its size
Flavor: Sweet and tangy
Ruby Red Grapefruits
Store: At room temp up to 1 week
Choose: Fruit that is heavy for its size and gives slightly when gently squeezed
Flavor: Tart and slightly sour
Limes
TIP
Fruits usually get softer and sweeter over time, and ripe fruits are at their peak flavor and texture. Stone fruits, honeydew and cantaloupe continue to ripen after being harvested, but watermelon, most berries and citrus do not.
3 WAYS
to eat summer fruit
1.
Grilled Peaches
Give peaches new life by grilling them. “One of my favorite summer desserts is grilled peaches drizzled with local honey and topped with mascarpone,” Alex says.
“While summer berries are fantastic on their own, you can up the game by adding some Cointreau (or any other liqueur), drizzle them with honey and add some fresh chopped mint.”
fresh berries
2.
“To me, summer means watermelon,” Alex says. “One of my favorite summer salads is watermelon, feta cheese, thinly sliced red onion and mint tossed in red wine vinegar and olive oil.”
fruit salad
3.
savor summer
with Chef Alex Strauss
West Des Moines, Iowa
“To me, stone fruits are at their best in summer,” says Hy-Vee Chef Alex Strauss. “These include peaches, plums, apricots and my favorite, cherries.” Summer is also peak season for melons and berries, and Alex has tips for preparing all three to highlight their juiciness and fresh flavors.
recipes
Mint & Lime
Melon Sticks
Stone Fruit
Summer Salsa
Mixed Berry Compote
Citrus & Thyme
Biscuits
Melon sticks sprinkled with fresh lime zest and ground cinnamon make for a refreshing summer snack! Serve with a lime-flavored and agave-sweetened yogurt dip at your next summer gathering.
Mint and Lime Melon Sticks
To slice a melon into sticks, cut melon in half. Place a cut side down, and cut into 1-inch slices. Rotate melon 90 degrees and again cut 1-inch slices.
Grilling melons caramelizes their sweetness and adds smokiness. Slice watermelon, cantaloupe or honeydew into cubes and thread onto skewers, or cut into wedges and place directly on the grill rack. Cook just until grill marks form.
Gather your favorite summer fruits like plums and peaches for this sweet and spicy salsa, served with
Hy-Vee restaurant-style tortilla chips.
Stone Fruit Summer Salsa
To ripen stone fruit, place in a paper bag and store at room temperature. The bag traps the ethylene gas released from the fruit, causing them to ripen faster.
Mixed berry compote—also known as a warm and delicious berry topping for breakfast or dessert! Cook the berries over medium heat with some sugar and lemon juice and serve over a Hy-Vee Bakery vanilla picnic snack cake.
Mixed Berry Compote
Let the fruit in mixed berry compote shine as an ice cream topper, spooned over pancakes, mixed into oatmeal or served alongside whipped cream.
HOW TO FREEZE FRESH BERRIES
Arrange in a single layer on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Freeze overnight, then transfer berries to resealable freezer bags. Store in the freezer up to 6 months.
HOW TO SECTION CITRUS
Sectioning grapefruits and oranges creates individual slices that are easy to eat and cook. First, use a sharp knife to slice off the two ends of the fruit. Then cut away the peel and the white pith. Cut between each section of fruit and the membrane separating it from the next section until slices can be easily removed.
Hands On 20 minutes | Total Time 35 minutes plus cooling time | Serves 6
Citrus & Thyme Biscuits
1 cup Hy-Vee all-purpose flour
1½ tsp. Hy-Vee baking powder
6 Tbsp. Hy-Vee salted butter, cold
¼ cup Hy-Vee 2% reduced-fat milk
1 Hy-Vee large egg, beaten
Coarse white sugar, optional
3 oranges, peeled and sliced
¼ cup Hy-Vee unsalted butter
2 Tbsp. packed Hy-Vee light brown sugar
½ cup Hy-Vee heavy whipping cream
2 Tbsp. Hy-Vee powdered sugar
1 tsp. orange zest
½ tsp. chopped fresh thyme
1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Combine flour and baking powder in a medium bowl. Cut in 6 Tbsp. of cold salted butter with a pastry blender. Whisk together milk and egg in another medium bowl. Stir milk mixture into flour mixture until moistened. Drop mixture by spoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet, about 2 Tbsp. per biscuit. Sprinkle tops with coarse sugar, if desired. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown; cool.
2. Combine orange slices, ¼ cup unsalted butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan. Cook and gently stir over medium heat for 2 minutes or until butter is melted and brown sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; cool.
4. Cut each biscuit in half crosswise. Spoon whipped cream mixture onto each biscuit bottom. Top with orange mixture and biscuit tops.
3. Combine cream and powdered sugar in a medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on medium until soft peaks form. Stir in orange zest and thyme.
Per serving:
290 calories
16g fat
10g saturated fat
0.5g trans fat
75mg cholesterol
160mg sodium
34g carbohydrates
2g fiber
4g sugar (7 g added sugar)
5g protein.
Daily Values:
Vitamin D 6%, Calcium 8%, Iron 6%, Potassium 4%
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with this guide FROM Hy-Vee
is easier than ever
CHOOSING the best summer produce
with this guide FROM Hy-Vee
is easier than ever
CHOOSING the best summer produce
with this guide FROM Hy-Vee
is easier than ever
CHOOSING the best summer produce
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Combine ¾ cup quartered strawberries, ¾ cup raspberries, ¾ cup blueberries and ¾ cup blackberries in a medium bowl. Set aside 1 cup berries. Combine remaining berries, ½ cup Hy-Vee granulated sugar and 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat 2 to 4 minutes or just until berries begin to break down, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in reserved 1 cup berries. Serve over Hy-Vee Bakery vanilla picnic snack cake, if desired. Makes 2 cups.
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Grilled Citrus Watermelon
Freshen up your summer snack with this recipe for grilled citrus watermelon!
Grilled Citrus Watermelon
Freshen up your summer snack with this recipe for grilled citrus watermelon!
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LEARN MORE
TODAY!