Summerfruit

  • Apricots
  • Cherries
  • Nectarines
  • Peaches
  • Prune Plums

  • Apricots

    Apricots are thought to be native to Armenia, dating back over 2,000 years. However, their native range may have also covered China and Japan. Alexander the Great brought apricots to Greece. And General Lucullus brought them to Rome. Just visit a grocery store in summer, and you can bring them home too.

    The Okanagan’s unique climate is absolutely ideal for growing apricots. In fact, we grow 100% of Canada’s apricots. All of them. Ripe fruit is a rich golden colour with a delicate blush. Slightly tangy in flavour, their natural sweetness is just the thing on a hot summer’s day. Eat them on their own, or cook them in jams, pies and cobblers.

    Availability: July and August.

  • Cherries

    Cherries have been around since prehistoric times. In fact, piles of cherry pits have been found in Paleolithic cave dwellings. We highly recommend you simply throw your cherry pits away. But should you choose to pile them up, well, it’s not our place to judge.

    These luscious, sweet, dark fruits grow with unbridled abandon here in the Okanagan. And we enjoy them with equally unbridled abandon.

    Availability: Late June through to the month of August.

  • Nectarines

    The word nectarine means “sweet as nectar” and we can’t imagine a better description for this fabulous Okanagan fruit. There is some misconception that nectarines are a cross between a peach and a plum, but this is not the case. They’re simply a fuzzless peach.

    Nectarines have rich, shiny, yellow skin. The red blush of this fruit indicates variety only, not maturity. You can eat them fresh, cut them up in salads or cook them in pastries, breads, sauces and meat dishes.

    Availability: July through August.

  • Peaches

    The Okanagan is renowned for its sweet, succulent, summer peaches. We’re not kidding. We actually have a town named Peachland.

    Peaches have been cultivated in this area since the 1890s. They’re a member of the rose family – as you can likely tell from their delightful aroma. Choose from cling and freestone varieties. They’re all equally amazing. Perfect for eating fresh, for baking, or for freezing and canning.

    Availability: July through September.

  • Prune Plums

    The plum has been cultivated since ancient times and was brought to North America by early settlers. They must have been pretty surprised when they arrived in the new world to find plums already growing along the entire East Coast. Turns out, the native people had been enjoying this rich and colourful fruit for hundreds of years.

    People often use the word “plum” to describe something good. And that makes sense – because Okanagan prune plums are as good as good gets. Deep blue-purple with smooth skins, they’re delightful eaten fresh or in crisps, tarts, sauces, and jams.

    Availability: Mid-August until well into September.