As fall approaches, the crisp autumn air and lower temperatures provide some solace from the harsh summer heat. And while getting outside is a stellar way to enjoy the weather, nothing beats some of the citrus produce that’s in season. With fresh, delicious taste, a ton of health benefits, and endless ways to eat them, you’ll be glad you paired the amazing weather with a taste of nature’s greatest culinary delights.
Oranges
Depending on the type of orange, these tasty morsels are in season from October through the winter. So, whether you love mandarin, navel, or Valencia oranges, you’re in luck. Plus, oranges are packed with nutrients to jump-start your day. With loads of vitamin A, vitamin C, and even some calcium, you’ll feel like you got a boost to your day.
While oranges are the ultimate hand snack, try them in salads, glazes, or in breakfast cereals for a little extra flavor.
Lemons
The tangy, tart flavors of lemons are at their height from August to November, allowing you to enjoy a refreshing glass of lemonade throughout the fall. Like their orange siblings, lemons have loads of vitamin C, including 31% of your daily value in a quarter-cup of juice, or 139% of your daily value in an entire raw lemon. Lemons are also rich in folate and potassium, rounding out their nutritional profile.
If you’re at a loss with what to do with extra lemons, remember that they pair well with just about anything. Squeeze some in your tea or cocktail or add a bit of zest into seafood or chicken. You just might love the flavor profiles from this little yellow snack.
Grapefruits
Bitter, tart, and yet surprisingly refreshing, the grapefruit often takes a backseat to the orange. But it shouldn’t. Smaller golden versions are available starting in October. And when prepared with other ingredients or a touch of sugar, grapefruits provide a flavor unlike any other fruit on the planet.
Grapefruits also have superb nutritional value, similar to both lemons and oranges. Packed full of vitamin A and vitamin C, as well as small amounts of fiber, calcium, and iron, grapefruits have all the vitamins and minerals you need in one place. If you’re not all that fond of raw grapefruit, don’t forget that they go great in salads, drinks, desserts, and more. You can even make a delicious grapefruit salsa that pairs nicely with tacos or tortilla chips.
Pomelos
If you want all the nutritional value of a grapefruit but with a milder, sweeter taste, reach for the massively sized pomelo. An ancestor of the grapefruit, these huge yellowish-green fruits aren’t as bitter or tart, making them ideal for snacking, as well as recipes. Available year-round but at their best starting in November or early December, they have loads of vitamin C, copper, riboflavin, fiber, and potassium.
Eat them as a snack or throw them in a salad for the most flavorful results.
Limes
The smaller green version of lemons, limes share many of the same nutritional benefits but are slightly more tart or bitter. Still, the health-improving attributes don’t lie. Limes come loaded with vitamin A and vitamin C to put a little pep in your step. With a ripening season between August and December, the fall is the best time to put them in your various recipes or drinks.
The culinary application of limes is seemingly endless, giving amazing versatility to this green fruit. Add to both alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks or make a sweet and spicy chili-lime chicken. Regardless of how you prepare it, you’re sure to love it.
Whether you’re squeezing some fresh lime into a cocktail or enjoying a grapefruit sprinkled with brown sugar for breakfast, these citrus fruits are ripe for the taking. Get them while they’re in season. DLJ Produce is home to fresh produce 365 days a year coast to coast. Contact us with any questions relating to fresh fruits and vegetables, we love discussing produce with our customers.
