Let's celebrate as Mother Nature provides another big push away from the warm comfort food of winter and spring into what we loosely define as "picnic season favourites":
Blueberry-Lovin'
A small fruit packed with benefits, blueberries are native to North America, and grow well in New Zealand from Kaitaia to Invercargill.
Blueberries contain some of the highest levels of anthocyanins, the red-blue pigments found in many berries, helping protect cells and tissues from the damage caused by free radicals.
Anthocyanins have been shown to enhance the effects of vitamin C, stabilise collagen for stronger tissues, and improve the integrity of capillaries and veins.
Fresh blueberries are an excellent addition to fruit salads, smoothies, pancakes with maple syrup, pies, and much more! |
 |
Cherries-O-Baby
Cherries have many associations with decadence and indulgence and for good reason! These delicious stone fruits are from the Prunus genus, which includes other summer stone fruits.
The cherry's glistening skin and tender flesh tastes divine when in the height of ripeness, and is a welcome addition to any summer menu.
Cherries contain high levels of anthocyanins, like many berries, giving them antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The rich red flesh is an indication that cherries potentially benefit the circulatory system and promote healthy blood pressure. |
 |
Strawberry Fields Forever
A popular favourite, strawberries are the epitome of summer fruit splendour! Strawberries are one of the quickest of the berry fruits to produce a crop and are rather easy to grow. They are at their fruiting best from October - December.
Fragrant and sweet, strawberries are more than a taste-smell serenade. As with other berries, they are very high in Vitamin C, as well as manganese, potassium, B vitamins, and the super potent antioxidant anthocyanins.
Enjoy strawberries fresh off the plant, in salads, on top of a pavlova, whizzed into a dessert coulis, or dipped in chocolate for pure decadence! |
 |
By Lana Raill, Harvest Wholefoods Grey Lynn
