Summer is almost here, and you know what that means! Lazy days poolside, bonfires, and barbecues with friends. However, it also means that seasonal summer fruit is about to be in heavy abundance.

Buying and enjoying fruit when it’s in-season comes with a number of benefits. For starters, in-season fruit is juicier, more flavorful, and fresher than at any other time during the year because it doesn’t have to be transported a long distance to your local grocery store or farmer’s market. Furthermore, fruit is also much more affordable when it’s in-season!

Here are five great fruits that’ll be in-season this summer, along with some seasonal summer fruit recipes for enjoying them!

Papayas

A papaya is a tropical fruit that’s jam-packed with Vitamin C and totally delicious, and it can be enjoyed in many ways. They’re commonly used in Mexican recipes, such as in a fiesta salad. However, they can also be eaten raw or used to make a tropical smoothie. We recommend cutting them in half, scooping out the seeds and spritzing with lemon juice for a fun kick.

Peaches

Peaches are the perfect summer fruit; soft, juicy, and succulent, they’re very refreshing and light. This makes them a wonderful ingredient for a freshly made smoothie. Simply blend together two cups of milk, two peaches, a quarter cup of orange juice, and ice for a yummy smoothie that’ll cool you off on the hottest of days.

Tomatillos

Tomatillos are always in season during the summer, and can be found at many stores and markets in Arizona. Tomatillos can be enjoyed on their own raw (just be sure to wash them first), but we think the best way to eat a tomatillo is in a homemade salsa – check out our recipe!

Apricots

When you’re craving something sweet this summer, you can’t go wrong with fresh apricots. These soft, sweet, and juicy fruits are the perfect healthy snack. One fun recipe you can try with apricots is to slice them up, sprinkle them with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar, and bake them in a 350-degree oven for about 15 minutes. They’re like cinnamon apples, only even sweeter and more appropriate for summer.

Cucumbers

Looking for something a little less sweet? The cucumber is a perfect choice. You can enjoy cucumbers raw (just slice them into small pieces), on a sandwich, or in a salad. You can’t beat the crispiness of a fresh cucumber, especially in a bed of lettuce with ranch dressing, croutons, and some sliced tomato. You can even sautee them in olive oil to soften them up and smother with cheese and stewed tomatoes as a healthy side dish for your next Mexican-inspired meal.

Now that you’ve got some ideas for using these unique summer fruits, all that’s left to do is try them in our favorite recipes!