August Fruits 2026
NOW AVAILABLE!! DARK DIPPING CHOCOLATE!!
Sustainably farmed and third-party verified to improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers, Melissa’s Dipping Chocolate is now available in Dark Chocolate! Dip fresh figs, strawberries, cherries, and orange slices, or make dried fruit and chocolate nut bark. Melissa’s Chocolate Wafers are also delicious folded into batters, doughs, frostings, or freshly made ice cream before freezing. Add them to mixed fruit salads, garnish filled Melissa’s Crepes or simply enjoy them as a snack! The chocolate contains no added hardeners, allowing for a smoother melt and better setting. The wafers may be gently microwaved or melted in the top of a double boiler. Water, extracts, and alcohol can cause chocolate to seize or become grainy, so be sure to add them after the chocolate has completely melted and cooled slightly. Store in a cool, dry place. Do not refrigerate. Available year-round. Product of USA.
EMERALD FIGS
A newer fig variety with green skin that turns yellow when ripe, Emerald Figs have creamy yellow flesh with honeyed notes reminiscent of vanilla crème brûlée. Tender and mildly sweet, they are delicious enjoyed on their own or paired with soft cheeses and a crisp white wine. Select firm figs free of gashes or mold. Ripen at room temperature on the counter for 2 to 3 days, then refrigerate between paper towels for up to one week. Do not freeze. The flesh, stem, and seeds are all edible. Available now through mid-September. California Grown.
TIGER FIGS
Named for their distinctive, green-striped skin, Tiger Figs have beautiful raspberry-colored flesh with subtle raspberry notes in their flavor. Select firm figs free of gashes or mold. Ripen at room temperature on the counter for 2 to 3 days, then refrigerate between paper towels for up to one week. Do not freeze. The flesh, stem, and seeds are all edible. Available now through mid-September. California Grown.
FROG HOLLOW PLUOTS
A hybrid of plum and apricot, pluots have firmer flesh than traditional plums. Depending on the harvest, varieties range from red to green skin with purple to yellow flesh. All are delicious for out-of-hand snacking, salads, roasting for desserts, or complementing rich meats. Available now through early September. California Grown.
RAMBUTAN
A relative of lychees and longans, this jawbreaker-sized fruit is a real eye-catcher with its flexible, hair-like spines. Like lychee, rambutan has juicy, floral-scented, translucent flesh with a grape-like texture. To prepare, wash well, pat dry, score the fruit around its equator without cutting into the flesh, twist open, and enjoy. Avoid consuming the pit. Select fruit free of ruptures or mold. The spines may darken with age, but the fruit should still feel firm, not soft or squishy. Refrigerate unwashed in a plastic bag for up to 7 days or freeze whole or shelled for up to 3 months, although freezing will soften the texture. Available now through November. Product of Guatemala.
GRAPE SEASON IS IN FULL SWING!
It's time for the classic summer road-trip snack...grapes! Available in a variety of shapes, colors, and flavors through natural hybridization, grapes are sweet, juicy, non-GMO, and a wonderful source of natural sugars for summer energy. Perfect for more than just snacking, grapes can be served fresh on fruit kabobs, grilled, roasted, pickled, puréed into sorbets or slushies, added to wine coolers, or paired with grains and both animal and plant proteins. They complement dairy products, grains, spicy peppers, other fruits, and vinegars with ease. Select firm grapes free of soft spots, mold, or withered stems. Store unwashed in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Wash under cool running water, pat dry, and enjoy within 2 to 3 days.
CONVENTIONAL AND ORGANIC JELLY DROPS® GRAPES: Dark purple, almost blue in color, Jelly Drops® Grapes contain only natural sugars and taste just like grape jelly! Delicious chilled, rich when roasted, or refreshing as a granita. Wash only when ready to eat or serve. Available August through October. California Grown. Melissa’s Organic varieties are USDA Certified Organic.
CANDY SWEETS® GRAPES: Do you remember those hard candies Grandma, Grandpa, or Auntie rewarded you with for good behavior? If so, this grape will bring back those memories! With exceptionally high Brix (natural sugar), small berries, and irresistible sweetness, it's always a challenge to stop at just one handful. Pairs beautifully with sharp cheeses, cream, rice wine vinegar dressings, and smoked foods. Available now through September. California Grown.
SUMMER CITRUS
Who says you can't enjoy great citrus during the summer? Citrus is perfect for helping maintain hydration, supporting immunity, and adding bright flavor to warm-weather meals and beverages.
MEYER LEMONS: If traditional Lisbon lemons are too tart for your taste, you'll love Meyer Lemons. A natural hybrid of a sweet orange and a lemon, they are much juicier and sweeter than a common lemon. Discovered in China in the early 1900s by plant explorer Frank Nicholas Meyer, Meyer Lemons are prized for their fragrant peel, vibrant color, and aromatic oils that enhance dressings, baked goods, frozen treats, beverages, homemade limoncello, and even natural air fresheners. Available now through December. Product of New Zealand.
VALENCIA ORANGES: Best known as the classic juicing orange, Valencia Oranges originated in Santa Ana, California, despite being named after the Spanish city of Valencia. With few seeds and exceptionally high juice content, they are favorites for both home and commercial juicing. Don't discard the peel. Simply wash and zest it into cinnamon roll fillings, sweet-and-sour sauces, iced tea, cocktails, salad dressings, marinades, or pan sauces. Select fruit that is firm but not hard, avoiding gashes, soft spots, or mold. Store unwashed at room temperature or refrigerate. For maximum juice, allow fruit to come to room temperature before squeezing. Freeze juice only. Available through October. Conventional or USDA Certified Organic available. USA Grown.
FINGER LIMES: Measuring just 1 to 2 inches long, Finger Limes resemble tiny green or pink-blushed fingers. Native to Australia, they contain hundreds of tiny juice-filled pearls instead of traditional citrus segments. These flavorful beads are wonderful sprinkled over seafood, used as faux caviar, frozen into ice cubes, stirred into vinaigrettes, or added to whipped cream and elegant desserts. Don't forget the thin peel, which is excellent in marinades. Skin color does not indicate flesh color. Choose fruit that is firm with a slight give. To extract the pearls, slice off one end and gently roll the fruit between your fingers.
KEY LIMES: The classic lime for beers, cocktails, fish tacos, and the renowned Key Lime Pie, Key Limes are about the size of a large gumball and are wonderfully tart and aromatic. Their juice is naturally pale, although it's often colored green in desserts and beverages. Select firm fruit with slight give. For easier juicing, allow fruit to reach room temperature, then wash and roll it firmly on the countertop before cutting. Store at room temperature or refrigerate. Available year-round. Product of Mexico.
ORGANIC SLICED COCONUT
No need to wrestle with a machete to enjoy fresh coconut! Melissa’s Organic Sliced Coconut is conveniently prepared without the shell. Simply open the package and enjoy with a sprinkle of Pico de Gallo or Chile Lime Seasoning. Slice into smaller pieces or grate into fruit salads, biónicos, curries, cocktail garnishes, homemade coconut milk, or baked goods. Do not freeze. Use within 3 days of opening. CCOF Certified Organic. Product of Mexico.
GOLDENBERRIES, WITH OR WITHOUT HUSK
Also known as Cape Gooseberries, this fruit resembles its nightshade cousin, the tomatillo, but offers a sweeter, less tart flavor. Goldenberries are rich in pectin, a source of soluble fiber, naturally high in Vitamin C and Vitamin A, and contain protein while remaining low in calories. Pull back the papery husk and dip them into melted Melissa’s Chocolate Wafers, coat them in fine sugar for elegant pastry garnishes, poach the huskless fruit for tarts, cook them into jams for meats and deli sandwiches, or simply enjoy them on grazing boards with cheeses, fresh figs, and cured meats. Native to South America, Melissa’s Goldenberries are a Product of Peru. Available year-round.
