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June Produce Guide
With June comes the tail end of spring and the the start of the glorious bountiful summer produce season.
What a month for fruit! Strawberries starting coming in a month ago, and now they are joined by cherries, apricots, and blueberries. It's the season for tropical fruit as well—pineapples, mangoes, and papaya.
For veggies, we may still find remnants of spring—local asparagus, morels, favas, and sweet peas. The first zucchini of the season arrive, as well as cucumbers, peppers, and even corn. Lettuces abound, along with radishes, carrots, and cauliflower.
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What's your favorite early summer fruit or vegetable?
For me, June is all about the cherries and apricots. Cherries ripen here in Sacramento in late May early June, and usually all at once. If you have a cherry tree, you'll need buckets!
Just get to the cherries before the birds do. Sweet bing cherries and Rainier cherries start arriving from Washington state in mid June.
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If you have a generous friend with a Bleinheim apricot tree, you're in luck! Bleinheims are the sweetest, most flavorful variety of apricots. But they are delicate, so usually what we get at the market is a sturdier variety.
If the fruit is hard, it won't be pleasant to eat. Wait until the apricot gives a little before cutting into one.
Scroll down for the recipes!
Cherries: Cherry Clafoutis
Elise Bauer This classic French dessert is a custard with fresh cherries baked inside along with slivered almonds, almond and vanilla.
Strawberries: Strawberry Ice Cream
Sally Vargas Do you love strawberry ice cream? Like, REALLY love strawberry ice cream? Then this is the recipe for you. Fresh strawberries and velvety texture, this is the ultimate summer treat.
Strawberries: Microwave Strawberry Jam
Elise Bauer So easy! Small batch strawberry jam that you make in a microwave oven. Cooks in 15 minutes! Easy cleanup.
Blueberries: Blueberry Pie
Elise Bauer My favorite pie to make in summer is this simple, classic blueberry pie! With the easiest, tastiest, flakiest homemade pie crust.
Continue to 5 of 15 belowBlueberries: Lemon Blueberry Ricotta Pound Cake
Elise Bauer Blueberries and lemon? Ricotta cheese in a pound cake? Yes, please! Sweet and lemony, with a delicate crumb, this cake tastes like summer.
Apricots: Apricot Chicken
Sally Vargas Got fresh apricots? Make this easy Apricot Chicken skillet dinner! It's ready in under an hour and makes a great change from your usual weeknight chicken routine. (You can swap in dried apricots, too.)
Mangoes: How to Cut a Mango
Elise Bauer Cutting and dicing a mango is EASY, once you see how it's done.
Mangoes: Mango Salsa
Elise Bauer Mango salsa with fresh diced mango, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro and lime. Perfect with seafood!
Continue to 9 of 15 belowCucumbers: Cucumber Salad with Mint and Feta
Elise Bauer Using delicate, thin skinned cucumbers, this cucumber salad recipe includes mint, feta cheese, red onions and sliced radishes with a simple oil and vinegar dressing.
Cucumbers: Cucumber Salad with Tahini Dressing
Elise Bauer This cucumber salad is amazing with tahini dressing, lemon and herbs!
Zucchini: Roasted Zucchini with Garlic
Elise Bauer The easiest way to cook zucchini is to roast it! Cut it lengthwise, toss with olive oil, garlic, and seasonings, and roast until browned.
Zucchini: Lemon Rosemary Zucchini Bread
Elise Bauer Like zucchini bread? Try this lightly sweet lemony zucchini bread with rosemary, you'll love it!
Continue to 13 of 15 belowCorn: The Easiest Way to Microwave Corn on the Cob
Elise Bauer Cooking corn couldn't be easier! In the microwave, husk on, four minutes. Cut off bottom. Slip off husk. It works!
Corn: Grilled Mexican Street Corn (Elote)
Megan Keno Mexican street corn is a staple of summer and it's easy to make at home! Top char-grilled corn on the cob with a tangy, creamy sauce, sprinkle with crumbled cheese and dive in. Make this for your next backyard cook-out!
Escarole: Sautéed Escarole
Elise Bauer Quick and easy sauté of escarole leaves, a lovely bitter chicory green.