Stone fruit season is back, and we could not be more excited! Stone fruits are exactly what they sound like, any fruit with a pit or “stone” in the middle. From here, stone fruits can be divided into clingstone or freestone fruits depending on how easily the flesh pulls away from the pit. Unlike other fruits, stone fruits do not ripen further once harvested, making them extremely seasonal fruits. They must be picked at their peak for optimal flavor and juiciness!
Some of our favorite stone fruits are peaches, plums, apricots, and nectarines, but there are so many more such as cherries, mangoes, olives, and even berries like raspberries or blackberries. Since we’re delivering black plums this week, let’s talk about this incredible stone fruit. Plums are known for having thin skin but super juicy flesh. There are many different varieties like black plums, red, or yellow. Out of all stone fruits, they have one of the longest growing periods from spring through fall, so you have lots of time to enjoy this fruit! There are also many recipes to be made from plums ranging from jam to plum bread to salad toppings!
Something important to note about stone fruits is that they should not be refrigerated. Refrigerating delays the ripening process, and for a fruit that barely ripens once harvested, this means you will never enjoy a perfectly ripe stone fruit. Oftentimes, stone fruits are picked prematurely in an effort to withstand flavor throughout the shipping process. Therefore, we recommend buying local stone fruits (if possible) to enjoy the maximum health benefits and deliciousness of stone fruits. Whenever possible, shopping locally not only benefits your community but also your health, since fruit and vegetables begin to lose their nutrients the second they are harvested.