Our dining tables have been surrounded by off-season vegetables and fruits! Although we can enjoy a rich variety of produce year-round, in terms of nutrition, seasonal and fresh foods are the most nutritious. It's the season when fruits are most abundant now, so which ones are the truly seasonal fruits?
The development of agricultural technology has made food increasingly accessible, and many consumers are not clear about what truly seasonal fruits and vegetables are. In fact, for northern regions, there are almost no seasonal fruits in the late winter and early spring. Starting from May, strawberries and loquats come into season. In June, you can start eating cherries, waxberries, and apricots. July and August are the season for enjoying watermelon, lychee, peach, and melon, while most fruits ripen in the autumn. From September to December, the fruit market is the most abundant, with apples, pears, pomegranates, kiwis, dragon fruits, pomelos, oranges, and winter jujubes all being widely available. These eight fruits are the most commonly eaten seasonal fruits in autumn.
Autumn apples and oranges are the freshest, with the best quality and taste. Unfortunately, some people prefer to buy early-market apples and oranges and are not interested in fruits that are harvested all at once. In 2013, a "dyed navel orange" incident occurred in Gannan, where farmers began to ripen, dye, and wax green oranges for the market as early as September, whereas normally ripened navel oranges only become available after November. Therefore, when eating fruit, there's no need to rush to try the new arrivals. It's best to eat navel oranges that come to market in November. They have a bright orange and smooth peel, full and elastic flesh, and a green calyx.
The harvesting period for dragon fruit is from mid-July to late November. This fruit has a refreshing taste and is rich in dietary fiber, which is very helpful in relieving autumn dryness. Winter jujubes start to appear in October. High-quality winter jujubes are very crisp and refreshing. They are also very high in vitamin C and rich in various micronutrients, which are beneficial for cardiovascular health.
Pomelo is one of the best fruits for the autumn and winter seasons. There are many varieties on the market, including pomelo, grapefruit, golden pomelo, honey pomelo, Guanxi pomelo, etc. Except for grapefruit, the taste and nutritional value of other pomelos are not much different. Grapefruit has a more prominent bitter taste because it contains limonoids and flavonoids such as naringin, but it is beneficial for cardiovascular health. You can choose appropriately according to your own situation.