20 Best Summer Fruits in Seasonal Produce

Watermelon is loved for its refreshing and hydrating qualities, making it an essential fruit for summer. With a sweet, red flesh and crisp texture, this juicy fruit is packed with 90-92% water.

Watermelon is a favorite in many cuisines around the world. They are best enjoyed on their own, added to fruit salads, or blended into beverages. Its high water content and refreshing taste make it a staple at picnics, barbecues, and beach outings.

In addition to its cooling properties, watermelon is known for supporting hydration and improving heart health.

Strawberries are a beloved summer fruit known for their vibrant red color, sweet flavor, and juicy texture. They are a staple in many recipes, ranging from fresh fruit salads to desserts like tarts and shortcakes.

Strawberries are also a popular ingredient in smoothies, ice creams, and jams. Of course, they are ideal to eat fresh, too!

Strawberries thrive in warm weather. Their peak season during the summer months ensures they are widely available and at their sweetest.

Mangoes are tasty fruits with sweet, juicy flesh and vibrant yellow-orange color. Besides eating fresh, they can be used in sweet and savory delights, from mango smoothies and sorbets to salsas or salads.

Mangoes are particularly common in tropical and subtropical regions, with India, Mexico, Thailand, and the Philippines being some of the top producers. In these countries, mangoes are available in several varieties.

Plus, mangoes are highly nutritious, packed with vitamins A and C, fiber, and antioxidants.

Peaches are a symbol of summer sweetness, reaching peak season in North America like America, Canada, Europe, parts of Asia, and Australia.

Peaches burst with juicy goodness, ready to be eaten fresh, grilled, or transformed into many summer desserts and salads. Their sweet and slightly tangy flavor is also ideal for drinks like smoothies or iced teas.

Like other fruits, peaches contain essential nutrients, including vitamins A and C, dietary fiber, and powerful antioxidants.

Summer wouldn’t be complete without blueberries! These bite-sized fruits have a sweet-tart flavor and deep blue color. They are normally enjoyed fresh as a nutritious snack, baked into pies and muffins, or blended into smoothies.

Blueberries are a quintessential summer fruit harvested from late spring through summer. These regions often celebrate blueberry season with festivals and markets. They also thrive in cooler climates, making them a popular fruit in northern regions.

Cherries are stone fruits with small, round shapes. They are juicy, sweet-or-tart fruits commonly found in the summer season.

Cherries are cultivated in different varieties. Some come in red; some are yellow. The flavors of cherries also depend on their types. Sweet ones are perfect fruits for eating fresh, while tart ones are for making baked dishes, desserts, sauces, or drinks (e.g., smoothies and cocktails).

For health benefits, cherries can reduce inflammation and promote better sleep.

Raspberries are red fruits with a delicate, juicy texture. Their sweet yet slightly tart flavor is an addition to summer dishes, from breakfast cereals and salads to desserts like tarts and sorbets. Fresh raspberries are also a great component in smoothies and cocktails.

These berries are also a nutritional powerhouse with fiber, vitamins C and K, and potent antioxidants.

Pineapples are a tropical fruit perfect for hot summer. These fruits feature juicy, golden flesh with sweetness and tang. Thus, you can eat pineapples fresh, add to summer salads and salsas, grill them for a caramelized note, or blend them into refreshing drinks like juices and cocktails.

Pineapples are commonly grown in tropical and subtropical climates, such as Costa Rica (one of the largest exporters of pineapples globally), the Philippines, Thailand, India, Brazil, and more.

Moreover, these tropical summer fruits not only tantalize your taste buds but also offer health benefits, packed with vitamin C and manganese. Pineapples also have enzymes that can be used as a meat tenderizer.

Blackberries are deep purple fruits with a juicy, sweet-tart flavor. They are widely enjoyed in many parts of the world, especially in North America and Europe.

They are perfect for enjoying fresh by the handful, baking into pies, cobbler, etc., or making jams, jellies, and sauces. Blackberries are also known for supporting digestive health and boosting the immune system.

Plums are a delightful summer fruit with juicy, sweet, and slightly tart flavor. Its skin colors range from deep purple to vibrant red and golden yellow.

Plums are versatile as you can savor them fresh, add them to tarts and pies, or use them in savory recipes like salads and sauces. Their sweet flavor also makes them ideal for jams, jellies, and beverages.

The ideal harvesting time of plums is from late spring through early autumn. The fruits are often enjoyed fresh during their peak season when they are juiciest and most flavorful.

Nectarines feature smooth skin and juicy flesh that resembles peaches but with a smoother exterior.

Nectarines can be enjoyed fresh, in salads, or grilled, adding a refreshing, sweet note to these delights.

Their peak season is during the summer months. For the best taste and texture, you should eat them when they are firm but yield slightly to gentle pressure.

Apricots are another beloved summer fruit, thanks to their sweet, slightly tart taste with smooth, velvety skin. They are normally consumed fresh, dried, or in various dishes, from jams and desserts to savory salads and sauces.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT), Turkey is the world’s leading producer of apricots, contributing around 800,000 tons annually.

They come into season from late spring to the end of summer, with their peak ripeness in June and July, when they’re juiciest and most flavorful.

Cantaloupe is a melon variety that brings a refreshing taste to hot days. With its sweet, juicy orange flesh, it’s ideal for enjoying fresh, blending into smoothies, or as a star ingredient in fruit salads.

Due to their sweetness, cantaloupes are typically enjoyed as a simple, cooling snack or dessert. This melon type is a healthy addition to your diet, with high levels of vitamins A and C, potassium, and antioxidants.

Oranges are a fruit with bright, juicy segments packed with a sweet and tangy flavor.

Although they are available year-round, oranges are especially popular during the summer when their refreshing taste is most appreciated.

There are several ways to enjoy oranges: eating them fresh, squeezing them into juice, or as an ingredient in dishes (ideally desserts and salads) and beverages.

Papayas are a tropical delight with vibrant orange flesh and sweet, musky flavor. Besides eating fresh. They are amazing ingredients in fruit salads or savory dishes, especially the unripe papaya.

In countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand, papayas are also used in recipes such as pickled green papaya and papaya salads. Unlike many fruits, papayas contain the enzyme papain, which can tenderize meat, making them a great part of marinades.

Grapes are enjoyed for their sweet, juicy flavor and versatility in cuisines. They can be eaten fresh, dried into raisins, or made into jams, jellies, and wine.

In France and Greece, grapes are a staple in summer salads and desserts. Additionally, grape leaves are used in Mediterranean cuisines to make dolmas, a stuffed dish with rice and herbs. Based on the data of FAOSTAT, China leads global grape production with 15.6 million tons annually, followed by Italy with 8.1 million tons, and the United States, primarily California, with 6.2 million tons​.

Figs are sweet fruits with a slightly chewy texture. They have soft skin that can range in color from green to deep purple, depending on the variety.

Inside, figs contain a dense, seed-filled flesh that is both sweet and subtly nutty, ideal for eating fresh, dried, or used in dishes, from desserts to savory delights.

In Mediterranean cuisines, figs pair well with cheese and nuts, adding a sweet component to appetizers and salads. Figs are harvested from late summer to early fall in Turkey, Egypt, Greece, and the United States, particularly California.

Lychee is a favorite tropical fruit that you can find in summer in China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Lychees’ sweet, floral flavor and juicy, translucent fleshes are a popular choice for cooling, hydrating snacks and beverages. The fruit has a rough, pink-red skin that you need to discard before enjoying lychee.

In China, lychees are often enjoyed fresh or used in desserts and beverages, symbolizing romance and good fortune. Additionally, lychee has historical significance; it was a favorite fruit of ancient Chinese emperors.

Guava is a tropical fruit loved for its sweet, aromatic flavor. The fruit normally has green skin with creamy white or pink flesh.

It’s a perfect choice to devour fresh, but guava is also added to smoothies, juices, and desserts. The fruit is also high in pectin, which makes it perfect for preparing jellies and preserves.

Additionally, guava leaves are often used in herbal teas and traditional medicine for their health benefits. Major producers of these fruits are India, Brazil, Mexico, and Thailand.

Passion fruit is a tropical fruit with a tough, wrinkled rind that can be purple or yellow when ripe. Inside, it contains many small, black seeds surrounded by juicy, gelatinous pulp with sweet and tart taste.

The fruit can be eaten fresh, added to smoothies, used in desserts, or made into refreshing drinks.

Whether you’re scooping out the pulp to enjoy directly or adding it to a summer dish, passion fruits also provide nutrients, like vitamins A and C, and antioxidants that support immune health and digestion.