6 Summer Fruits in Miami You Should Eat Right Now

Florida’s tropical climate makes it ideal for growing more than just oranges. Tasty tropical fruits thrive in Florida sunshine and are maintained through a combination of our guaranteed warm weather and defined rainy season. Our balmy tropical climate yields all types of fruit year-round making us a resource for much of the Eastern U.S during winter.

We asked local fruit purveyor (a.k.a Fruit Hustler) Nick Bernal of Seasons Farm Fresh to share his knowledge on this season's best fruits. Nick leads a global network of sustainable farms with operations in eight countries spanning across two continents. From juicy mangoes to funny-looking jackfruit, check out Nick's top picks for this season’s fruit-haul:

Longan

Resembling its Chinese name "Dragon Eye", the Longan berry is a fleshy sphere covered in a bark-like shell with a large black seed in the center. You'll notice it is almost identical to lychee, but slightly more tart. Originating in Southeast Asia, the longan was often referred to as "euphoria fruit" for its anti-aging and sexual health benefits (wink wink). This bite-size fruit can be found blossoming in South Florida between May and September and ripens very quickly after harvesting. If you don't intend to eat them right away, Nick recommends refrigerating the fruit to prevent over-ripening.

Sugar Apple

Currently at the early bloom stage, the pale-green to blue-green sugar apple peak from August through October. This pinecone-like fruit is native to Central and South America as well as the West Indies. Sometimes known as “Sweetsop” or Custard Apple for its custard-like flavor, sugar apples ripen usually one to two days after being cut from the tree. Allow them to soften at room temperature and then place them in the refrigerator for 2 - 4 days. Try making a delicious Sugar Apple Sauce by blending the fruit segments with 1 mashed banana and a half cup of non-fat milk. Serve this over cakes, yogurt or ice-cream and enjoy!

Avocado

Since it was first introduced to Florida in 1833, the avocado makes several appearances in Miami homes, supermarkets and roadside stands. For about half of the year beginning in June, we can enjoy this healthy fruit in various ways. Whether you’re making your own guacamole, or simply enjoying slices sprinkled with salt and pepper, you are doing your body good. Did you know that avocados contain more potassium than bananas? In fact, a 100 gram serving contains about 14% of the recommended daily allowance. Want to make sure your avocado is ready to eat? Peel back the small stem cap at the top of the avocado— if it comes off easily and you find green underneath, your avocado is ripe and ready.If you pull back the cap and find brown, you’ve gone too far and the avocado is overripe. If the stem cap doesn't come off, put it back! It’s not ready yet!

Mango

Mango season is received like a national holiday in Miami. Mango milkshakes, mango juice, mango sorbet, mango ice cream, mango pudding... you get the idea. From late May to early November, mango trees blossom all over Miami. If you’re not picking them up from your own backyard (or your neighbor’s) then you’re buying them at your local grocery store, or on the side of the road. The bottom line is: you can pretty much find mangoes everywhere. Not only are they delicious but they are a great source of vitamins C and A as well as high in glutamine acid, which aids in memory development. The great thing about mangoes is that they can be consumed at any point in their growing process. Many people love mangoes before they are completely ripe; drizzle some lime on slices of green mango, sprinkle with salt and you've got yourself a Central American snack!

Jackfruit

The jackfruit is the largest tree fruit in the world, sometimes reaching 100 pounds! Don’t be put off by its size and especially not by its aroma. To some, jackfruit may smell like anything from overripe fruit to stinky cheese! But fear not, it tastes way better than it smells. This fruit bohemoth has been compared to tasting something like Juicy Fruit gum. Enjoy this funky fruit in South Florida from May through November. Ripe jackfruit is naturally sweet and subtle, perfect for cakes or custards. When roasted, jackfruit seeds taste similar to chestnuts, making this a very versatile fruit. It may seem a bit intimidating, but here is how to prepare it: Remove the jackfruit from the stem and let 3 or 4 days pass. Remove the flesh and seeds; they can be stored in an airtight container for up to three days in the refrigerator. 

Starfruit

Sometimes called Carambola, starfruit is very popular through Southeast Asia and of course, tropical Miami. For seven wonderful month, August through March, starfruits blossom in various shapes, all obviously resembling a star. Some varieties have five ridges or as many as eight! This sweet and sour fruit ripens immediately after being harvested but is best enjoyed about 2 to 3 days later. That is when the sugar enzymes have sweetened the starfruit to its highest potential of sweet delicious flavor! The taste is something like a cross between an apple and citrus and the texture is that of a peeled grape. The entire fruit is edible, including the skin. This versatile treat can be stewed, pickled, dried, juiced or consumed as is.