Do you enjoy going with your family to New Hampshire farms and picking your own fruits and vegetables? If so, you’re in luck: it’s pick-your-own season, so take a trip to your local farm and enjoy! The New Hampshire Department of Agriculture’s website includes a pick-your-own directory so you can start your summer produce adventures.
There are more than 40 farms in Hampshire that offer pick-your-own fruits and veggies to the public. Berries (strawberries and raspberries and blueberries and blackberries) and apples are the most common fruits you can pick, along with tree fruits and pumpkins later in the season.
In July, blueberries and strawberries will be at their peak, with raspberries ready in June and usually again in October. You can also buy rhubarb at farms in July, so try making a delicious rhubarb-strawberry sauce to put over frozen yogurt for a summer treat with your family.
Or you can make an easy crunch berry parfait with blueberries or strawberries. Spoon about 1/2 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt into a glass, top with about 1 cup fresh strawberries or blueberries, and then add 1/2 cup low-fat granola or crunchy cereal. It is so quick and so easy and so delicious that it’s a favorite for adults and children!
According to the US Blueberry Council, blueberries contain just 80 calories and 3.6 grams of fiber per one-cup serving, helping you to meet your daily recommended intake of fiber. Blueberries contribute vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese, making them a good choice to help meet nutrient needs.
There are many more recipes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that use the fresh fruits and vegetables you and your family pick this summer. Don’t wait – get outside, enjoy the sunshine and start picking!
