Summer’s reemergence hits like a wave of joy, sweeping you away with feelings of freedom and potential. It’s the beginning of long, hot days, and the sweat of icy drinks cooling the sizzle of the beating sun. And it brings afternoons that stretch leisurely into warm nights filled with future cherished memories. All of this freedom and excitement whets the appetite for the abundant variety of summer fruits and vegetables—nature’s joyous expression for the return of pure possibility spread over 94 days.
Wherever your summer adventure takes you, don’t forget to celebrate the season by enjoying the rich bounty of produce. Maybe that’s a trip to the local farmer’s market to fill up on seasonal specialties. Or it’s the few steps out to your garden for a nightly harvest of summer fruits and vegetables.
Bring the bounty of summer to your table however you see fit. Freedom, possibility reign—so, like summer itself—there’s no wrong way to enjoy the variety of seasonal gems waiting for you.
Put these summer fruits and vegetables in your shopping cart
The sheer quantity of great produce available can be daunting. To help you sort out your shopping list, we’re put together a list of fruits and vegetables in season in summer. Use it to help you fill your grill, picnic spread, or outdoor dining table with fresh flavor until the leaves start turning.
Don’t miss these summer produce superstars while they’re at their peak. Some can be found at farmer’s markets or in your grocery store in different seasons. But summer is the best time to pick them up or grow them in your garden:
- Tomatoes
- Bell peppers
- Corn (if you’re living your food freedom)
- Cucumbers
- Summer squash (the name says it all)
- Zucchini
- Peaches
- Nectarines
- Pears
- Eggplant
- Green beans
- Blackberries
- Raspberries
- Melons
- Green peas
- Okra
- Tomatillos
- Plums
Many of the following vegetables are staples throughout the year. And they still bring big flavor during the warm months—especially to a big, crunchy summer salad.
Lettuce
- Beets
- Carrots
- Radishes
- Garlic
- Onions
- Celery
Some of the most vibrant, delicious herbs thrive in the summer heat. Make sure to snag some for big bursts of bright flavor in sauces, dressings, grilling marinades, and so much more.
- Basil
- Chives
- Mint
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Thyme
- Tarragon
The fruits below weren’t given the summer superstar spotlight above. It has nothing to do with their flavor or warm-season vibes. They’re also available during the spring, so they’re simply summer rockstars—still worthy of your inclusion on your menu this season:
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Cherries
- Mangoes
- Bananas
- Pineapples
- Lemons
- Limes
- Avocados
- Apricots
- Plantains
- Apples
Try these recipes brimming with summer season fruits and vegetables
The summer heat probably doesn’t have you cranking up the oven to make hearty casseroles. Lighter fare that fuels summer adventure without bogging you down or heating up the house is mostly on the menu. And we have some great dishes packed with seasonal produce and big flavor to power the potential of summer to new heights.
- This might be cheating, but… 10 Whole30 Summer Salads (Original Whole30 only)
- Light, quick, and packed with tomatoes and fresh herbs—Shrimp in Tomato and Spinach Sauce (Original Whole30 only)
- Grilled Eggplant Boats with Chickpea and Cherry Tomato Salad and Lemon Vinaigrette PB
- Enjoy a perfect mix or grill time and summer produce—Grilled Salmon with Bell Pepper and Avocado Salsa (Original only)
- Two takes on summer produce tacos: Whole30 Shredded Chicken Tacos in a Red Pepper Boat and 5 Ingredient Taco Boats (Original only)
- More than a sandwich stuffer—Whole30 Pickled Cucumbers from Caribbean Paleo (Original and Plant-Based Whole30)
- For those who want to teach an old dog new tricks—Whole30 Hot Dogs with Crunchy Dill Pickle Slaw (Original only)
- A pair of plant-based salads that are more than side dishes—Balela Salad and Edame Mango Salad (Plant-Based only)
- Why not cool off with one of these amazing mocktails? (Original or Plant-Based)
Celebrate summer with a bevy of peak-season produce
Let the uniquely summer sensation of boundless freedom and possibility shape your menu this season. Fill your plate with the fresh, light, flavorful summer fruits and vegetables. Use a recipe we shared above, or eat your produce right out of the garden or your farmer’s market tote bag. It’s summer, so squeeze every drop of fun and adventure out of those precious 94 days the way you want.
Summer might be the peak season for many favorites. But, at Whole30, we feel like there’s never a bad time to eat your veggies. No matter whether they’re seasonal, frozen, organic, conventional, from your garden or the corner store. The Whole30 meal template suggests piling half of your plate with vegetables. However you get there is up to you. (For help during other seasons, we have a produce guide for spring, one for fall, and another for winter, as well.)
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