Canadian Grown Cherries, Peaches & Nectarines!

Summer is in full swing and amidst warm weather comes delicious Canadian grown fruits and veggies in our local grocery stores. With plenty of fresh produce readily available, it’s a great time to eat local fruits and veggies more often. Why not bring a package of fresh local cherries to a work meeting instead of donuts? Or how about eating a peach as a substitute for a chocolate bar during that afternoon sugar craving! Get inspired by the bounty of Canadian grown produce and step up your fruit and veggie intake during these beach body months.

New this season are our Thomas Fresh, premium brand cherries, peaches and nectarines which are locally grown in the beautiful Okanagan valley of British Columbia. Our cherries are sold in 1 lb ‘Fresh Okanagan Cherries’ and 10 oz ‘Okanagan Jumbo Cherries’ and both peaches and nectarines come in 3 litre clam shells. All Thomas Fresh clam shell packaging can be recycled in household blue bins, including the peach and nectarine sleeves!

What’s so great about cherries? These sweet or tart fruits are available from Canadian farmers for a very limited time (Mid-June to August) and provide a decadent, juicy taste. Cherries also pack a blast of nutrients which include Vitamin A, C, dietary fibre and even potassium! In the 15th and 16th century, cherries were used for medicinal purposes and some studies show that they are a natural painkiller.

Recipe Ideas

Few can resist the rich flavour delivered by a bowl of freshly washed local cherries. They can be eaten as a convenient snack and are a high-quality ingredient to use in baked goods like pies, tarts, muffins and scones. When they are de-pitted, cherries are a fruity addition to smoothies as well. Not only is this fruit delectable in sweet recipes, cherries are an innovative choice to pair with savoury meals too! Try using cherries in your next meat sauce – pork is the most suitable.

» Check out this great recipe: Pork Tenderloin with Cherry Balsamic Sauce

Tips & Ideas

Peaches and nectarines are the definition of summer in Canada with limited availability from local growers. Peaches are available from July to Late August while nectarines can be purchased Early August to September. Both of these juicy fruits provide a sweet and refreshing flavour and can be a bit tart if under ripe. Genetically speaking, these fruits are identical, however in nectarines the “fuzzy peach” gene is recessive, making them smooth instead! Both peaches and nectarines contain a boost of Vitamin C, Vitamin K, calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron.

Recipe Ideas

Peaches and nectarines pair wonderfully in cobblers, pies, yogurt parfaits, smoothies and summer cocktails. These fruits are satisfying alone or can be used in a large variety of baking recipes. Peaches and nectarines provide a succulent flavour profile which can be used successfully in both sweet and savoury applications!

Tips & Ideas