July–What’s In Season Guide

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There is so much delicious produce in July and if you are like me, I try to save money at the store by buying produce that’s in season. It’s cheaper, it’s fresher, and it didn’t travel very far to get to your table. My July — What’s in Season Guide is your guide to delicious July Seasonal Produce along with recipes, tips, and more!

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JULY SEASONAL PRODUCE

July seasonal produce is a mixture of just about everything: berries, stone fruit, with a few vegetables thrown in too. Keep reading to find out all about July Seasonal Produce in this July — What’s In Season Guide.

July means long, hot summer days and the 4th of July. I hate heating up the house by cooking indoors, so we do a TON of grilling or salads for dinner. If you need some help with your grilling skills, check out my How to Grill series! Of course, we always plan a huge 4th of July party for our friends and neighbors, so make sure to check out all my 4th of July goodies.

JULY — WHAT’S IN SEASON GUIDE

I hope this July — What’s In Season Guide is just what you are looking for. Furthermore, if you’re looking for more resources on your food journey then check out my Feeding a Family on a Budget guide or this Budget Friendly Menu Planning. I have lots of menu planning guides for various occasions and even a monthly & weekly menu planning printable that’s super helpful. Lastly, the best thing for eating healthy and in season is a well stocked pantry.

Apricots

Apricots are a good source of Vitamin A, rich in fiber, plus they are good for your heart, blood, and skin! They are great blended up in smoothies. A fun thing to do with apricots is to dry them out in the dehydrator. Great snack for the kids!

Apricot Smoothies
Brussel Sprouts Salad with Apricots
Apricot Vanilla Bean Jam
Apricot Crisp

Bell Peppers

I’m a lover of all bell peppers, except green. So my favorite time of year is when they are in season and the prices go way down. I tend to stock up and prep, flash freeze, and save for the winter months when I can’t afford a $3 red bell pepper.

Steak & Pepper Sandwiches
Orange & Pepper Jelly
Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Blackberries

Living in Phoenix we don’t have any places local to pick fresh berries. But just an hour and a half north of us there are tons of blackberry bushes. We take a day trip up North every year and pick as many as we can. Most end up eaten on the spot, but the few that I manage to get home get turned into all sorts of delicious recipes.

Blackberry BBQ Sauce
Blackberries with Goat Cheese & Honey
Macaroon Cups with Berries
Blackberry & Almond Meal Muffins

 

Blueberries

I would pick blueberries over chocolate every day! They are my favorite fruit and nothing is better than a perfectly ripe blueberry. Blueberries are considered a superfood: loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. As an added bonus they are the perfect balance of tart and sweet this time of year.

No Bake Triple Berry Pie
Slow Cooker Blueberry French Toast
Vegan Blueberry Muffins
Grilled Salmon with Blueberry Vinaigrette 

Cherries

Cherries are another fruit rich in benefits, but their season is coming to an end. Plenty of antioxidants, Vitamin C, and even contain melatonin to promote healthy sleep. I certainly get excited when these beauties come into season. Get out your cherry pitter to make the process quicker.

Cherry Mint Mocktails
Fresh Cherry Smoothies
Fresh Cherry Cheese Ball
Pork Chops with Cherry Salsa

Corn

There used to be corn stands close to my house, but even though they are harder to find we still get the sweetest corn in the summer. My favorite thing to do is just soak the ears in water for 20 mins and throw them on the grill. Nothing beats that beautifully charred flavor. If you grill up a bunch, you can cut the kernels off and add them to recipes, or even freeze for later.

Mexican Corn
Slow Cooker Corn on the Cob
Orzo Pasta Salad with Corn & Blueberries
Corn and Black Bean Salsa

Cucumbers

Cucumbers contain multiple B vitamins and because they have plenty of water and fiber they aid in  healthy digestion. Add a crunch to a salad, or even make homemade pickles.

Creamy Cucumber Salad
Cucumber Ranch Dressing
Mexican Cucumber & Tomato Salad
Cucumber Tea Sandwiches

Green Beans

Growing up, many summer afternoons were spent sitting and snapping the ends of green beans for dinner. I love the way green bean taste when fresh- a far cry from the canned casserole type beans. These also pickle up nicely and can stand up to a little heat.

Green Beans with Brown Butter
Firecracker Green Beans
Grilled Green Beans
Poached Cod with Green Beans

Mangos

Mangos are pricy little fruits, but waiting until they are in season means the price is affordable and the flavor is amazing! Smoothies, salsa, drinks,  and ice cream are my favorite ways to use mangos…besides just slicing them up for a snack.

Mango Mint Mojitos
Mango Cheesecake Ice Cream
Chipotle Salmon with Mango Salsa
Mango Spiced Cookies

Peaches/Nectarines

Peaches and nectarines taste almost the same, so I use them interchangeably in recipes. However, I really hate the fuzzy texture on the peaches. I can’t be the only one. But these sweet, juicy fruits are a summertime fav. In Phoenix, they are perfectly ripe in mid-May and we have tons of u-pick orchards around and a big annual peach festival. Picking a peach off the tree and eating in the field is such an experience. One place here, you can pick and eat however many you want at no charge, but if you want to take some home there is a small fee. I think my max is 10 fresh peaches off the tree.

Blackberry & Nectarine Salad
Peach Sangria
Peach, Mint, & Rum Popsicles
Peach Almond Crisp

Plums

Plums are just now coming into season. They are a little tart and not quite as sweet as some other stone fruit, but they are delish! They are also hardier than peaches so they are my summer picnic fruit of choice. Just me, a couple plums, and a knife…..so good.

Fresh Plum & Oat Muffins
Plum Tart
Easy Plum Cobbler
Pork Chops with Cherry Plum Salsa

Raspberries

My daughter LOVES raspberries. She can’t get enough. Raspberries contain antioxidants like Vitamin C, quercetin, and gallic acid that help to fight against cancer, heart and circulatory diseases. They are high in ellagic acid that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Raspberry Muffins
Raspberry Cream Cheese Bars (gluten free)
Raspberry Chocolate Tart
Raspberry Lemon Icebox Pie

Summer Squash (Zucchini/Yellow Squash)

Zucchini is such a versatile vegetable. If I’m not making Chocolate Zucchini Bread then I just slice it in half and throw it on the grill with some olive oil, salt, and pepper. Perfect!

Bacon Chocolate Zucchini Bread
Baked Pasta with Zucchini and Sriracha Cream Sauce
Farmers Market Vegetable Salad
Zucchini Casserole with Red Peppers & Spinach

Strawberries

Strawberries are perfectly ripe and so sweet this time of year, but unfortunately it’s the end of their season this month. So stock up!!!! Of course, they are perfect for snacking, but cooking with them and making jam is always a must. Just don’t wash them until you’re ready to use them!

Popsicle Rockets
Dragon Fruit Salad
Summer Berry Smoothie
Strawberry & Goat Cheese Spinach Salad

Tomatoes

I grew up playing at the lake in Texas with my Bobo and cousins. He always packed our ice chest and it was full of Big Red for the kids, tomatoes, and beer for him. When we would get hungry he’d give us a tomato and a salt shaker. It brings back such fond memories and I still do this today when I just need a little snack. It’s great and is the perfect way to tide me over until lunch.

Homemade Tomato Sauce
Herbed Ham Frittata
Vegetarian Greek Pasta with Feta
Antipasti Appetizers

Did I miss something in my July — What’s In Season Guide??? What’s your favorite in-season fruit or veggie during July….tell me, I’d love to know.