July brings a bounty of fresh, seasonal produce perfect for the warm summer evenings. From juicy berries and ripe tomatoes to sweet melons and tender squash, the best of July produce is ready to be savored!

In July, the harvest continues with an abundance of fresh, light flavors and a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables. From juicy stone fruits and berries to the arrival of summer squashes, July produce is perfect for the hot weather, and many of these items can be enjoyed without the need to turn on your oven.

So, here’s my handy guide for what’s in season in July – and the best ways to use it.

Fruit

Berries: You’ll find an abundance of blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries at the farmers market in July – all three of these berries are at their ripest during July. They are great to munch on as a snack. Or you can add them to smoothies (try this super easy berry smoothie), jams (like blackberry jam or raspberry jam), salads (like strawberry spinach salad), refreshing drinks (strawberry mocktail, anyone?), or baked goods (or even no-bake blueberry tart). Let me know in the comments below what your favorite recipes with berries are.

Melons: One of the most versatile fruits in the July season is the melon. Honeydew, watermelon, and cantaloupe can be used in everything from desserts (like watermelon granita) to juices (refreshing watermelon juice) to barbecues, and I can never get enough.

Stone fruits: the most popular during July are apricots, cherries, plums, peaches, and nectarines. And you can easily use them in a variety of dishes. Try swapping out peaches in a summer salad with nectarines and burrata, use them to make cherry juice or peach lemonade, or to whip up a delicious dessert.

Squash

Zucchini: Also known as courgette, they are perfect for making lighter dinners when it’s too hot to turn on the oven. This versatile veggie can be eaten cooked or raw and used in a lot of different ways. For instance, grill zucchini or use them for fried veggie fritters and stuffed zucchini boats or in a surprisingly good-for-you chocolate cake (you’d never know the zucchini was there!). Look out for firm green zucchini that have a small green stalk.

Summer squash: Harvested before they reach their peak ripeness, summer squashes are considerably smaller and differently colored from their autumnal varieties. In fact, they look very similar to zucchini. I love making squash casseroles or frying summer squash and serving it with dipping sauces.

Cucumbers: Almost 97% of cucumber is water, they can easily used in simple cucumber and onion salad or cucumber sandwiches. But I love using cucumbers for more experimental recipes – like cucumber lemonade, cucumber juice, and, of course, homemade pickles!

Vegetables

Tomatoes: Plump and juicy, tomatoes will have spent the spring months growing – and are now ready for picking. Tomatoes come in all kinds of varieties and colors. For the summer, I like my tomatoes raw – usually as part of a salad. But if you’ve got a glut, try preserving them by sun-drying tomatoes, pickling green tomatoes, roasting tomatoes, or juicing tomatoes.

Peppers: Just like tomatoes, red, green, yellow, and orange peppers come in July in a variety of shapes and sizes. Whether you prefer milder bell peppers or something a bit spicier, they should have a firm texture with smooth skin and a green stalk still attached. They’re easily enjoyed raw with dips or even incorporated into them, like in Ajvar, Muhammara, and red pepper hummus, or can be roasted with other summer veggies. I’ve also shared how to roast peppers, which allows you to store them for longer.

Others

Corn: I recommend getting your corn from the farmer’s market or a stand where the husk should still be intact. Sweet corn can be cooked in a variety of different ways for a summer cookout or as a low-effort side. Enjoy it as grilled corn, oven-roasted corn with garlic butter, boiled corn, or even microwaved corn.

Green Beans: They are easy to make into a quick side dish for dinner. Sautee green beans or boil green beans with a little butter or oil and some herbs – and eating your greens will have never been easier!

If you try any of these recipes using July seasonal produce, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!

Seasonal produce guides