Seasonal Produce
Year Round Produce
ITEM |
ORIGIN |
PEAK SEASON |
TIP / DESCRIPTION |
| Strawberries | California/Florida | Year Round | Sourced from premium growers for size and sweetness. |
| Raspberries, Blueberries & Blackberries |
U.S.A., Mexico & Argentina | Year Round | Sourced from premium growers and transported by air freight due to their "fragile" nature and to maintain freshness. |
| Grapes: Green, Red & Black Seedless |
U.S.A., Mexico, Brazil & Argentina | Year Round | |
| Pineapples: Golden Ripe | Costa Rica | Year Round | Pineapples will not ripen or get any sweeter after they are picked. Tugging at the inner leaves of the crown is not an indication of ripeness. Ripe pineapples should give off a good, fresh tropical smell. |
| Melons: Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Honeydew | U.S.A., Guatemala, Mexico & Costa Rica | Year Round | Look for a honeydew which is spherical in shape and free of scars. Leaving a firm cantaloupe at room temperature will allow the texture of its flesh to become softer and juicier. |
| Avocadoes | Mexico | Year Round | A green skinned, pear-shaped fruit with a large seed that ripens after harvesting. Ripen at room temperature for a few days or with fruits such as bananas and apples. |
| Mangoes | Brazil & Ecuador | Year Round | Select mangoes that are gentle to the touch with colours of red and yellow. |
| Papaya | Hawaii, Colombia, Belize, Costa Rica | Year Round | |
| Tropical Fruits: Guava, Coconut, Tamarillo, Granadilla, Kumquat, Physallis, Mangosteen, Star Fruit, Passion Fruit, Dragon Fruit/Pitahaya | Brazil, Columbia, Honduras & Indonesia | Year Round | When chosing a coconut, shake the coconut to ensure there is liquid inside and no leakage from the top of the three eyes. |
| Kiwi: Green | Italy & New Zealand | Year Round | Green kiwi is soft in texture and unique in flavour. |
| Bananas | Columbia & Honduras | Year Round | |
| Citrus Tangelos, Minneolas, Clemetines, Oranges, Grapefruit, Pomellos, Lemons, Limes |
Morocco, Spain, U.S.A. | January - March | Tangelos- juicy, mild & sweet Minneolas - cross between grapefruit & tangerine Clementines - Easy to peel and almost always seedless. Grapefruit - Varies in sweetness and acidity. Pomellos - Tastes like a sweet, mild grapefruit without the bitterness. |
| Mangoes: Haden & Ataulfo | Mexico | April - June | Ataulfo mangoes are best known for their sweetness and their stringless flesh. |
| Kiwi: Golden | New Zealand | May - August | Golden kiwi is less acidic and yellow in colour. |
| Lychee Nuts | Thailand | May - June | |
| Strawberries, Blueberries, Blackberries & Raspberries | Ontario | June - September | Local strawberries are ideal for jams, preserves fresh eating. |
| Peaches (Baby Gold and Freestone), Nectarines, Apricots & Plums | Ontario & U.S.A. | June - August | Baby Gold variety are ideal for preserving. Freestone, white & donut varieties also available and sweet tasting |
| Loquats | Spain | June - July | Loquats are at their sweetest when soft. Firmer, slightly immature fruits are ideal for baking pies and tarts. |
| Figs: Green & Black | U.S.A. | July - October | Most flavourful when soft and ripe |
| Melons: Sharlyn, Canary, Cranshaw, Orange Flesh, Santa Claus, Galia |
U.S.A. | July - August | Distinctive in taste and unique in flavours & textures: Sharlyn: cross between cantalope & honeydew Canary: not as sweet as other varieties Cranshaw: sweet & juicy Santa Claus- mild & flavour, not as sweet as honeydew Galia - sweet & aromatic, refrigerate after cutting to preserve taste Orange Flesh - sweet & juicy with a creamy taste |
| Wild Blueberries | Ontario & Quebec | August | Hand picked from Northern Ontario & Quebec. Ideal for freezing, baking & preserving. |
| Pears: Bartlett, Bosc, Flemish & Concord | Ontario | September - October | Sourced from the Niagara Region and delivered to the stores daily for sweetness and ripeness Bartlett - sweet & soft in texture Bosc - relatively crunchy when ripe Flemish - skin is tender when ripe |
| Cactus Pears | U.S.A. & Mexico | September - February | |
| Grapes: Muscat | Italy | October - December | Golden in colour and a favourite amongst Europeans for their juicy & meaty texture. |
| Grapes: Concord | Ontario | October - November | Sourced from the Niagara Region a favourite amongst children. Picked ripe off the vines. |
| Persimmons: Fuyu & Hychia | U.S.A. | October - December | Fuyus eat like an apple and Hychia must be soft and fully ripe to be eaten. |
| Apples: MacIntosh & Empire, Red & Golden Delicious, Royal Gala, Mutsu, Cortland, Ida Red, Spys, Russet, Honey Crisp, Jona Gold | Ontario | October - December | Ontario grown apples are at their peak for sweetness & crispness. Ideal varieties for baking are Mutsu, Spy, Ida Red, Cortland. |