The Berry Best: Summer Berries Are Here!

We are berry excited that berry season is upon us at the Chico Saturday Farmers’ Market! Now that we’re in June, it’s time to get down to the market and stock up on berries galore for ice creams, sorbets, syrups, cobblers, salads, baked goods, snacks, smoothies, and just about anything else you want to make this summer with your berry bounty!

Raspberries

Raspberries are one of summers greatest pleasures! When ripe they are sweet, tangy, juicy, and vibrantly colored! Usually seen in red, there are also gold, black, and purple varieties. Because they are the most delicate in the berry world, your raspberries should go right in the fridge when they get home from market, and keep best when kept dry until ready to use. These tasty gems are great raw, but do very well in baked goods, not to mention they’re chalk full of antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber! What’s not to love?

Blackberries

Also considered a clumpberry (just like raspberries!), these plump little fruits are sweet and tart. They are full of antioxidants and are said to aid in enhancing memory, weight management, and improving eye sight! These can enjoyed raw or cooked, but when cooked the flavor deepens and becomes less tart. Look for blackberries with no mold, discoloration, or wrinkles. Wash just before you consume them, and keep them in the fridge. Blackberries have a lot of seeds, but no need to worry, if you’re making a puree or jelly, just strain them out!

Blueberries

These indigo colored berries may rank second in consumption in the U.S. to the strawberry, but are considered the fruit with the highest amount of antioxidants of all fruits in the U.S.! Native to North America, these berries range from very to mildly sweet, can be tart, and have a flavor profile similar to an apple or pear, with a nice little “pop” in your mouth when you bite into them. Small berries are best for baking, because they contain less moisture, whereas larger berries are great raw and fresh!

Strawberries

Juicy, sweet, and ruby red, there’s nothing better than the flavor, fragrance, and texture of fresh strawberries! Picking your own or getting them from your local farmers’ market is the only guaranteed way to get the freshest berries, as they most likely haven’t traveled far, are handled much less, and picked when perfectly ripe! Look for berries that are plump, firm, and have a deep red color. A nice medium size is going to be your best bet, as very large strawberries tend to be hollow on the inside, and very small strawberries tend to be seedy. Another good sign is sheen. Fresher berries have more shine! If they are over-ripe, they start to look dark and dull.