fresh at the market in June/July

The summer months are a festival of fresh fruits. There are plenty of choices to be had ranging from different stone fruits (apricots, peaches, cherries, and later plums) to various berries (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, gooseberries, currants, and Jost berries), and other temperate fruits like melons. Stone fruits appear first from Italy and France, then the Swiss varieties come into season and dominate the offerings at the market. Berries are mostly Swiss, although some come from Germany or France. Melons come from Italy and France – the best coming from Cavillon in the Provence. Vegetable selections are also enormous this time of year, with plenty to choose from in local offerings. June’s shopping basket can certainly be filled with many refreshing and flavorful fresh products. It is really the first month of the year when it really pays off to think about the local products from Switzerland. Here are a few products to look for, avoid, search out on the wild side, and look ahead toward…


what to look for

Fruits, Fruits, Fruits… Starting with the stone fruits, look for the deep reddish orange apricots from France. The larger paler apricots from Italy are not as flavorful. The price for apricots are reasonable and getting better – at least until the Swiss varieties come into season. Once apricots (mostly from Canton Wallis) hit the market, an automatic increase in import duties goes into effect. This will double the price of apricots over night. Cherries are really excellent this year. There are plenty of varieties available, so this might be a good time to experiment a bit. The darker cherries are quite rich in antioxidants, and have a sweet flavor. The Royal Anne variety (light red and yellow) are highly flavorful and full of acids. It is also possible to find the small bright red sour cherries at the market. These are excellent when preserved in their juices and served later in the year with some wild meat. Strawberries are really at their best right now. Ripe strawberries are intensely flavored, but they will not hold long – 2-3 days maximum. There are also plenty of opportunities to harvest your own strawberries throughout Switzerland. Keep your eyes open for some opportunities the next time you are driving around. Small wild Blueberries from Central Switzerland have just started to appear. These highly-flavored berries are full of antioxidants and vitamins. They are truly a treat during the summer in Switzerland – especially if you like making blueberry muffins! Other fruits in their prime are Melons from France, Figs from Italy, Peaches/Nectarines from Italy and France, and Gooseberries, Black Currants, Red Currants from Switzerland. As for vegetables…there are also plenty of selections, beginning with Eggplants, Bell Peppers, Zucchini, Red Onions, and Garlic – all from Switzerland. This is truly a ratatouille just waiting to be made. Green Beans are also quite plentiful at the moment. They come in a variety of colors ranging from green, yellow, spotted, and purple. Always ask if the vendor has some Bohnenkraut (savory in English) laying around. This delicious herb goes especially well with beans. It has a flavor similar to thyme. Swiss-grown Potatoes have just come back into season. Look for the agata (excellent for salads or steaming) or Lady crystal (good for purées). Other vegetables to consider are fresh Beets and Kohlrabi. Early in the season, these vegetables are so sweet, they require no cooking! Finally, there are plenty of choices in fresh Lettuce and all of the accompaniments: Cucumbers, Carrots, Radishes to make a delicious summer salad.


what to avoid

There are plenty of tomatoes to look for…and plenty to avoid. The oxtail tomato is a trend tomato, which has increased in availability during the past several years. The original is actually quite tasty and meaty, although quite rare to this area. These tomatoes did not travel well when fully ripened, nor did they ripen well when harvested while immature. The new version was developed during the past few years, and it attempted to fill the void in the tomato market during this time of year. Unfortunately, the taste is not very pleasing, and it is rather mealy and plain. It is a disappointment. Potatoes from last year, or anywhere outside of Switzerland should also be avoided. There are plenty of locally produced potatoes showing up at the market. Large blueberries are easy to find this time of year, especially in larger supermarkets. They are not so flavorful or rich in nutrients. If possible, stick to the smaller wild blueberries (about double the price…but worth every bit). Bell Peppers, Eggplants, and Zucchini from outside of Switzerland (except the round violet eggplant from Italy) are mostly mass produced in large greenhouses. Finally, asparagus season is now over (Cherries Red, Asparagus Dead).


on the wild side

There are quite a few wild fruits growing throughout Switzerland. I would recommend picking up a book on the subject and exploring some new tastes the next time you venture into the wild country. Closer to home, there are still plenty of options. Wild currants (red and black) are abundant, as are tree fruits like Elderberry and Jost Berries. Wild strawberries are quite prevalent. Though tiny, these ancestors to the cultivated varieties we now enjoy are full of flavor and aromas.

looking ahead…

August will have more fruits on the market to join those which are now appearing. The Pome fruits (apples, pears, and quinces) will begin to ripen and appear in mid-August. Elderberries and Figs (Italian) are also available during the beginning of August. Local tomatoes will be plentiful, and there are always interesting choices to be had, or new varieties to explore. Sweet corn and early season cabbage will begin to appear, which are the first signs of an approaching fall.

Happy shopping and cooking…

Jack