Fabulous Fruit
 

Due to globalization, most of us have access to fresh fruit year round. However there is a huge difference in quality of say, fresh strawberries in January and fresh strawberries in July. July strawberries are redder, sweeter and juicier. After popping a July strawberry into your mouth, with the cool juice running down your chin, you can help but reach for another one.
 
The summertime fruit selection is one of the best things about the warm summer months. Peaches, plums, grapes, blueberries, blackberries… the list of delicious fruits could go on and on. While these toothsome treats are perfect right off the vine, there are many ways to enjoy summertime fruits.
 
Make a smoothie
Smoothies can be a great breakfast on-the-go, and when made with the right ingredients, they can taste more like a dessert than a healthful protein and fiber rich meal. Try making your smoothie with a base of low-fat yogurt, or for a bigger protein kick, try using fat-free Greek yogurt. From this base, add any fruits you have on hand. While there are the classic combinations like bananas and strawberries, any combination will do; there is no bad concoction when it comes to fruit. Add a little ice to thicken, and you’re done- a fruit smoothie full of your favorite summertime fruits.
 
Grill ‘em up
Instead of defaulting to the usual s’mores or ice cream at your summertime BBQ, try making a shish kebob with fruit and grilling it; warm fruit what a concept! Using wooden skewers that were soaked in water for about thirty minutes (to prevent them from catching on fire), load on your favorite summertime fruits in any order you want and grill on a hot grill for a few minutes each. Not only will this be a huge crowd pleaser but you’ll be getting a big dose of fiber and phytonutrients with each kebob.
 
Canning
Canning extra fruits, like a bumper crop of blackberries, is a great way to use extra fruit and have a little piece of summer last through the cold winter months. The almost-lost art of canning is very simple, but must be done correctly to prevent bacterial overgrowth and subsequent illness. Once your canning jars are sterilized, all you really need to do it boil up your fruit with sugar, pour into the jars and the hard part is done. Check out this reference from the National Center for Home Food Preservationwhich provides current research-based recommendations for most methods of home food preservation.
 
No matter how you get your fruit this summer be sure to choose fruits as locally as you can; your produce will be fresher, juicier and tastier!