The Countdown to Fruit Season is Here
June is upon us, which means the abundance of spring is in full swing. We have seen asparagus, radishes, and spring greens at the farmers markets for a few weeks now. As we relish in the delicious fresh produce the spring has to offer, it’s nearly impossible to hold back our anticipation of the fruits and vegetables that the next weeks and months will bring.
This has been especially spurred by the appearance of strawberries at market last week. The first fruit of the season, marking warm weather and the countdown to other mouth watering fruits to come. In honor of strawberries, here is a timeline of when we can expect each fruit to pop up at the farmers markets in Boulder County.
Strawberries
It’s here! With warmer temperatures and high demand, we are starting to see more of these delicious red fruits grown in Colorado. Lucky for us, they are harvested in spring and late summer here, so if you don’t get your fill now, look out for a second round in August.
Cherries
This is the next fruit to keep your eye out for at the farmers market, and make sure it’s a keen one. Cherries have a very short season here, from mid-June to mid-July. Sour cherries and sweet cherries are grown in Colorado – be sure to get a taste of both this year!
Stone Fruit (Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums)
The one we all count down the days for all year long – peaches! Along with other stone fruits like nectarines and plums, these fruits often become available in mid-July. Rumor on the farm is that we may be getting our beloved peaches on the earlier side this year, so stay tuned for updates on when to expect peaches at market!
Pears
The signal that summer is winding down, pears carry us from the hottest days into the cooler fall weather. Ripe from August through November, Colorado offers a selection of pears from crispy Asian pears to Bartlett pears with thin skin and soft, juicy flesh.
Apples
Similar to pears, apples become ripe in August, but continue being harvested through November. Apples are special in Colorado because of their ability to be stored throughout the winter months. They allow us to continue eating fresh, local fruit for almost every month of the year!
This list certainly isn’t exhaustive. You’ll likely see apricots by the end of June, cantaloupe starting in July, and raspberries in August. Your favorite orchards will come to market with jams and jellies in hand, giving you a taste of whatever season you want all year long. Regardless, the appearance of our first fruit of the season was enough to make us excited about all the sweet, juicy goodness to come this year.
For now, let’s enjoy strawberries. While eating them as they are is more than enough of a treat, check out the recipe below for a strawberry rhubarb crisp that will get you using at least two in-season Colorado-grown ingredients this week!
Recipe: Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble
Ingredients:
1 ⅓ cups Dry Storage all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ cup, plus 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 tablespoons coarse sugar
Finely grated zest of one lemon
Pinch of salt
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
1 ½ cups rhubarb in 1-inch pieces
1 heaped quart strawberries quartered
Juice of the above lemon
3-4 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions:
Heat oven to 375°F.
In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, coarse sugar, lemon zest, a pinch of salt, and melted butter. Mix until clumps form. Refrigerate until needed.
In a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate, toss rhubarb, strawberries, lemon juice, ½ cup sugar, cornstarch, and salt.
Remove topping from the refrigerator and cover the fruit thickly and evenly with it. Place the pie plate on a baking sheet, and bake until the crumble topping is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling beneath, about 40 to 50 minutes.
We recommend enjoying your warm crumble with a side of Best One Yet ice cream!
