Stone Fruits of Summer

I always anticipate my first peach of the season, sinking my teeth into a perfectly ripe peach, waiting to catch the juice running down my chin as I slurp in the first bite. Peaches are plentiful in Colorado come August, provided the weather treats them right! Peaches are just one, and probably the most popular, variety of a fruit group called stone fruits, botanically known as drupes.

Stone fruits have thin skin and have a stone in the center called the pit or the seed. Many stone fruits grown in Colorado are at their peak in July and August, making it a perfect time to indulge in your favorite variety.

Stone Fruit Varieties:

• Peaches
• Nectarines
• Plums
• Apricots
• Cherries
• Mangos
• And more

Delicious and Nutritious

Different stone fruits contain different nutrients, but most stone fruits provide dietary fiber and vitamin C.  Some stone fruits, like cherries, provide powerful antioxidants, too!

Stone fruits are ripe when the flesh starts to feel just slightly soft when squeezed. From this point, they continue to ripen quite quickly. You can leave stone fruits on the counter to ripen for a day or two, but if you don’t consume them when ripe, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days longer. Be sure to always rinse your stone fruits under clean running water before eating.

A Sweet Treat

Stone fruits can be eaten just as they are, fruit eaten right off the pit, with no preparation required. But, perhaps you prefer to pit and slice them for a pie or dice them to top oatmeal or yogurt. Maybe you will blend them into a smoothie. What about grilled peaches?

I recently read about a stone fruit caprese salad, in which you substitute the tomatoes for any combination of nectarines, peaches, plums, and cherries together with creamy fresh mozzarella and basil. Sounds divine, right? Combine sliced ripe fruit, fresh mozzarella, and basil in a bowl. Mix a bit of lemon juice, a dash of sugar, and a splash of olive oil together, and adjust to your liking. Then, add to the fruit and cheese mixture and toss to coat.

If you find yourself with an abundance of stone fruits and want to make them last, consider preserving them. Check out Preserve Smart Colorado to learn more about drying, canning, and freezing your stone fruits.

Whatever your choice of stone fruit this summer, enjoy!