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Summer tastes sweet! Prepare to dig into the best July fruits and vegetables (from berries and stone fruit to squash and corn). Then, I’m dishing about how to incorporate these seasonal produce picks in the best summer recipes.
July is the sunny, sparkler-filled month when summer really kicks into full gear. Grilling season is on fire (hopefully just within the scope of the grill itself, of course), gardens are blooming with some of the year’s best produce, and there’s still plenty of fun in the sun to be had before Labor Day. 😎
Curious about what’s in season in July so you can shop and meal prep with flair? Think of the seasonal produce guide below like me joining you at the market or garden, pointing to what you should invest in or harvest to make the most of summer ingredients.
Your bank account and your taste buds both benefit when you seek out seasonal produce; unlike something that has been shipped in from across the globe, it’s far fresher and more affordable. (By the way, you’ll save even more money if you grow your own!)
Consider adding these July fruits and vegetables to your garden-harvesting or shopping list. Then read on for some seriously delicious inspiration about how to put what’s in season in July to use in meals and snacks for yourself, your family, or the entire neighborhood at picnics, potlucks, and 4th of July parties.
Still have leftover produce from last month? See what’s in season in June.
Looking ahead to next month? Discover what’s in a season in August.
What’s in Season in July?
- Berries: Stock up on strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries to enjoy now and freeze for later. They’re naturally at their sweet-tart best now, and are begging to be transformed into everything from jams and coulis to cakes and cobblers.
- Stone fruits: Cherries, apricots, mangoes, nectarines, peaches, and plums are also in fine form come July. While I’ll gladly devour any of these fresh from the tree, unadorned and in their fresh glory, I adore them even more in crisps, pies, salads, grilled fruit recipes, and beyond.
- Melons: Cantaloupe and watermelon are at their juiciest now, too. For this reason, and because some days I cannot stand to increase the heat in my kitchen one degree more, melon salads, smoothies, and cocktails are on repeat in my home come July.
- Cucurbit vegetables: Cucumber and summer squash are technically “cucurbit” crops. (Melons do as well, by the way, but since we use those in such different ways menu-wise, I separated them out here.) From salads to side dishes to spiralized vegetable recipes, it’s easy to find a new way to eat curcubits every day of July.
- Leafy green and legume vegetables: Go green by filling up on leaves of lettuce and Swiss chard, as well as green beans (legumes). Try them in potluck-perfect salads, lunch wrap and sandwiches, and summery soups.
- Grasses and nightshade vegetables: The harvest season for corn, which is actually a grass, is well on its way and only gets better as we approach fall. Nightshades like bell peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes are rising to the occasion as well. All of the above are dreamy grilled, mixed into salads and salsas, or incorporated into a wide variety of dinner entrees.
The Best Fruits and Vegetables to Eat in July
| Fruits | Vegetables |
| Apricots | Bell peppers |
| Blackberries | Cabbage |
| Blueberries | Corn |
| Cantaloupe | Cucumbers |
| Cherries | Eggplant |
| Mangoes | Green beans |
| Nectarines | Hot peppers |
| Peaches | Lettuce |
| Plums | Summer squash |
| Raspberries | Swiss Chard |
| Strawberries | Tomatoes |
| Watermelon | Zucchini |
Berry Recipes
Remember that pint of blueberries that would have cost you $8 in January? Now it can be yours for more like $3, and with far more delicious, sweet-tart results. Toss the season’s best berries (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries are all hitting their stride) in muffins, salads, cobblers, cakes, and beyond.
1
Fresh Fruit Tart
Loaded with a lush assortment of seasonal berries and other fruit, there’s nothing quite as lovely as a Fresh Fruit Tart. You’ll also learn some baking basics, like a tart crust and pastry cream, along the way.
Stone Fruit Recipes
July is peachy! Make the most of that seasonal fruit, and its close counterparts nectarines, mangoes, and cherries in these summer fruit recipe ideas.
2
Peach Cobbler
There’s no better summer dessert than a warm Peach Cobbler, fresh from the oven, with a scoop of ice cream. This from-scratch recipe is ready to bake with just 10 minutes of prep and you’ll love the golden brown topping with bubbly peaches beneath.
Fruit Dessert Recipes
Peach Crisp
Fruit Dessert Recipes
Cherry Clafoutis
Fruit Dessert Recipes
Cherry Cobbler
Appetizer Recipes
Mango Salsa
Salad Recipes
Rainbow Thai Salad with Mango
Melon Recipes
Next to a ripe, juicy peach, little shouts “summer!” more loudly to my taste buds than a slurp-worthy wedge of watermelon. Use that water-rich, sweet star or its cousin, cantaloupe, in these lovely melon recipe ideas.
3
Watermelon Agua Fresca
Pretty, pink, and refreshingly sweet, Watermelon Agua Fresca makes drinking water feel like a party! The watermelon version is perfect during the summer months when watermelon is in peak season. Low in calories and high in flavor, you’ll feel like you’re on vacation with every sip!
Breakfast Recipes
12 Toddler Breakfast Ideas
Cucurbit Recipes
Calling all cucumbers, summer squash, and zucchini! Your attendance is requested in casseroles, salads, sandwiches, and so much more this month.
4
Zucchini Parmesan
This fuss-free Zucchini Parmesan skips the busy breading-and-frying routine in favor of roasted zucchini strips layered with homemade tomato sauce and two kinds of cheese.
Leafy Green and Legume Recipes
Leaves of lettuce, cabbage, and Swiss chard are in fine form this month, and are ready to act as the base of a wide variety of salads, slaws, low-carb wraps, or Buddha bowls. Just add your favorite salad dressing! Save some plate real estate for green beans, too; they’re ready to rise to the occasion summer through early fall.
5
Cobb Salad
This classic all-American Cobb Salad has it all: chicken, bacon, blue cheese, hard-boiled egg, tomatoes, and avocados, all lined up and ready to impress on a lovely bed of lettuce.
Grass and Nightshade Vegetable Recipes
Ask anyone in my family and they can confirm that there are four major MVPs in my summer menu line-up: corn, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. All of these July seasonal produce items conveniently reach peak season during the same couple months each year, plus they play nicely together and individually. Give these nightshades and grass family members a starring role in the July recipes below.
6
Corn Salad
This easy Corn Salad recipe has a Chipotle-honey dressing and plenty of tomatoes, cucumbers, and feta cheese. It’s light and citrusy, the perfect late-summer side dish.
Mexican Recipes
Mexican Street Corn
Soup and Stew Recipes
Corn Chowder
Sandwich Recipes
Italian Sausage and Peppers
Appetizer Recipes
Hot Corn Dip
Appetizer Recipes
Cowboy Caviar
Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.
