AVAILABLE FOR LUNCH

APPLES

national apple month is october​

​

WASHINGTON APPLE COMMISSION

More apples are grown in Washington than any other state.  Red Delicious and Gala are the most popular varieties. Learn more about the groves, apple uses, recipes, and more.

​

NEW YORK APPLE ASSOCIATION

New York is number two in the nation in apple production.  Browse over 100 recipes, and read the Apple Fun Facts, Nutrition Facts and health benefits. Find a pick-your-own farm if you live in or near the Empire State.  And visit nycider.com to learn all about apple juice and cider.

​

MICHIGAN APPLE COMMITTEE

Number 3 in the nation, in case you are keeping track.  Innovative recipes like Apple Salsa, and a section for Kids and Teachers, with activities.

​

US APPLE ASSOCIATION

In their words, "We represent the nation’s 7,500 apple growers, close to 40 state and regional apple associations, and hundreds of apple-related companies. By unifying a diverse industry, we serve three primary goals: Represent the U.S. apple industry on national issues, increase demand for U.S. apples and apple products, and provide accurate, helpful information on matters pertaining to U.S. apples, apple products, and the apple industry."  Website includes about 100 recipes, and plenty of info to satisfy all your apple curiosity, including industry statistics (28 billion apples grown each year!) varieties grown, health and nutrition facts, teacher lesson plans and more.  Find out if eating an apple a day really does keep the doctor away. HINT - they say it's true!

​

ORANGE PIPPIN

Named after England's most popular apple variety, Orange Pippin is a partnership with AllAboutApples.com, formerly a US-based website.  Together, this website provides information about apples on both sides of the pond (aka The Atlantic Ocean) including apple varieties from A to Z, and orchards and their locations in the US, Canada and UK.  You will be astounded by the sheer number of varieties beyond Delicious and Gala.  

​

OTHER STATES

CALIFORNIA APPLE COMMISSION

MINNESOTA APPLE GROWERS ASSOCIATION

NEW ENGLAND APPLE ASSOCIATION

NORTH CAROLINA APPLE GROWERS ASSOCIATION

OHIO APPLES

VERMONT TREE FRUIT GROWERS

VIRGINIA APPLE BOARD

WISCONSIN APPLE GROWERS ASSOCIATION

​

​

APRICOTS

APRICOT PRODUCERS OF CALIFORNIA

California grows most of the apricots that we enjoy, either frozen, canned or dried.  Apricots are harvested primarily in June, so enjoy fresh apricots at this time while they are available for a few short weeks.  Apricots are part of the stone fruit family, which includes nectarines, plums, apricots, and cherries, known as such because their seed is very large and hard. 

​

CALIFORNIA APRICOTS

​

bananas

CHIQUITA BANANAS

If you’re an average American – you eat 27 pounds of this fruit a year – more than any other fruit.  Get some great recipes (even at different stages of ripeness), nutritional information and other banana questions answered

​

BERRIES

NATURIPE FARMS

Naturipe growers produce strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, blackberries and avocados (botanically a berry!)  Growers are located in the US for in-season produce, as well as in Mexico, Latin America and South America to provide fruits during the colder, off-season months, or as they call it - "in-season global."  Besides nutrition info, home storage tips, watch their videos to see how each of these fruits is harvested, processed, and packed for delivery.  Recipes available on Pinterest.

​

BLUEBERRIES

BLUEBERRY COUNCIL

Gain a greater appreciation of the Highbush blueberry, which is native to North America.  Delicious recipes, cooking tips, history and health benefits.

​

WILD BLUEBERRIES

Go wild!  Smaller in size than traditional blueberries, and most often sold frozen, these nutritional powerhouses are perfect in smoothies.

​

CALIFORNIA BLUEBERRY COMMISSION

​

cantaloupe

CALIFORNIA CANTALOUPE ADVISORY BOARD

California produces about 75% of the cantaloupes grown in the US (Arizona and Texas add about another 15%).  

​

cheRRIES

CHERRY MARKETING INSTITUTE

Everything you ever wanted to know about Montmorency Tart Cherries - where they're grown, how they got their name, recipes, health benefits and more.  Learn which state produces about 75% of the US crop (Hint: It borders four of five of the Great Lakes).

​

OREGON CHERRY GROWERS

...

​

CITRUS FRUITS

january is national citrus month

february is national grapefruit month

 

SUNKIST GROWERS​

Growers in this California and Arizona cooperative provide more than 40 varieties of oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, tangerines, tangelos and mandarins.  Get recipes, tips and techniques to use citrus fruits in your cooking and desserts, health tips to use lemon as a "salternative" and tips to get a naturally delightful citrus scent into your home or beauty regimen.

​

FLORIDA CITRUS​

...

​

TEXAS CITRUS​

...

​

cranBERRIES

CRANBERRY MARKETING COUNCIL

"America's Original Superfruit" is great to eat year-round, not just at Thanksgiving.   Learn how they are grown and harvested, mainly by flooding the bogs.

​

WISCONSIN CRANBERRIES

The cranberry is Wisconsin's official fruit - they harvest more than any other state, and the cranberry is the state's #1 fruit crop.  And you thought Wisconsin was just about cheese?

​

CAPE COD CRANBERRY GROWERS ASSOC

Excellent source of North American cranberry history, along with nutrition info and recipes. Massachussets has about 20% of the US cranberry growing acreage.  

​

OCEAN SPRAY

This agricultural cooperative is owned by more than 700 cranberry and grapefruit growers in the United States, Canada and Chile who have helped preserve the family farming way of life for generations. Formed in 1930, Ocean Spray is the world’s leading producer of cranberry juices, drinks and dried cranberries.  The company operates 20 cranberry receiving and processing facilities.  Info about the company, and recipes too...and join the Cranberry Club!

​

THE CRANBERRY INSTITUTE

...

​

Dates

CALIFORNIA DATE ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

...

​

DRIED PLUMs (prunes!)

CALIFORNIA DRIED PLUM BOARD

What's in a name?  Everything, when you consider the prune. A few years back, plum growers decided it was time that the prune variety of plum, the type that gets dried, should be called dried plums instead of prunes.  So different name, but same fruit.  And yes, a good source of fiber, which is why prunes became the butt of jokes, based on an older population eating them for their laxative properties. Take one bite and you'll know that it's the taste and good nutrition that make them a great snack or addition to a salad, granola bar or pizza topping. ​

​

​

figs

CALIFORNIA FIG ADVISORY BOARD

If you've only had figs in a newton-type cookie, and have never cut fresh or dried figs into salads or other foods - you're missing out on a sweet opportunity.

​

fruit juice

JUICE CENTRAL | JUICE PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION

...​

 

grapes

CALIFORNIA TABLE GRAPE COMMISSION

What's a table grape?  A grape with four legs and chairs!  Seriously - it's a grape grown for consumption as a grape, as opposed to grapes grown for wine, jelly, juice or drying into raisins.  And most of the grapes we eat come from sun-drenched California, and are available in green, red and black varieties.  Heard of Cotton Candy grapes?  These green grapes are naturally bred to taste as they are named.  Ask your grocer!  RECIPES

​

kiwi

CALIFORNIA KIWI COMMISSION

...

​

NZ KIWIBERRY GROWERS

...

 

MANGO

NATIONAL MANGO BOARD

The majority of fresh mangoes consumed in the US are imported from Mexico.  Other countries include Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Guatemala and Haiti.  A small amount is grown in Florida and California, mostly for sale locally. India grows almost half of the mangoes in the world, and most of that is consumed in India - Mango Lassi anyone?  The large oval pit can make it a challenge to cut, so read and watch the video to see how easy it can be.  This promotion and research organization also provides recipes and more info.  There is a Mango Lassi (Mango + Milk + Yogurt Shake) recipe on the website, though it has a non-traditional ingredient - almond butter.  Click Here for a simple, authentic Indian recipe, or search for more online.

​

PEACH

august is national peach month

​

CALIFORNIA CANNING PEACH COUNCIL

...

 

CALIFORNIA CLING PEACH BOARD

...

 

GEORGIA PEACH COUNCIL

...

 

SOUTH CAROLINA PEACH COUNCIL

...

​

NEW JERSEY PEACH PROMOTION COUNCIL

...

​

​

PEArs

NORTHWEST PEAR BUREAU | USA PEARS

Don't know the difference between a Bosc and Bartlett?  Anjou and Concorde?  Reading this website will answer these questions, as well as offer recipes, wine and cheese pairings, and how to use the neck to judge ripeness.  Washington and Oregon grow most of the pears in the US.  California is #3...

​

CALIFORNIA PEAR ADVISORY BUREAU

Learn about pear varieties, recipes such as Pear Gorgonzola Pizza and Pear & Mango Salsa, meet some of the Northern California pear farmers and more.  A medium pear has a bout 100 calories, with 6g fiber.  Focussed mainly on the European Pear varieties, though Asian Pears (crunchier than a regular pear, like a cross between and apple and a pear) are grown in California.

​

POMEGRANATEs

POMEGRANATE COUNCIL

...

​

POM WONDERFUL

...

​

raisins

CALIFORNIA RAISIN MARKETING BOARD

So you heard it through the grape vine?

​

rasperries

WASHINGTON RED RASPBERRY COMMISSION

...​

​

STRAWBERRIEs

NATIONAL STRAWBERRY MONTH | MAY

NATIONAL STRAWBERRY DAY | FEB 27

​

CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY COMMISSION

...

​

FLORIDA STRAWBERRY GROWERS ASSOCIATIONS

...

​

watermelon

NATIONAL WATERMELON PROMOTION BOARD

So sweet, so delicious, so versatile.  Juice it, cube it, grill it.  Rich in Vitamin A and C, and contains 92% water, so it's easy to hydrate with watermelon.  It's brightly colored flesh is sure to brighten any meal - get fun tips, history, nutrition, recipes, videos, and other info.

​

NATIONAL WATERMELON ASSOCIATION

...

​

OTHER FRUITs

​

​