This month marks the start of summer! This is especially evident in the amount of fruit that is in season in the Netherlands in June. While only two types of fruit were in season in May, in June there are no less than ten. So plenty of choice for a tasty fruit salad or refreshing smoothie. June also has some new seasonal vegetables in store for you. In this article, we list June's seasonal fruit and vegetables for you.
Enjoy seasonal fruit from the Netherlands in June
Thanks to Crisp for the seasonal produce
While in previous months vegetables were mainly available from Dutch soil; this month many different types of fruit are also growing in the Netherlands. Delicious summer fruits such as berries, raspberries, apricots, nectarines and peaches are in season this month. Enjoy them extra, as there are only a few months when many different types of fruit can grow on Dutch soil or in unheated greenhouses in the Netherlands. I have looked up the best ideas for using and storing June's seasonal fruit for you, so you can make the most of it.
Unfortunately, when we took the photos for this article at the end of May, not all seasonal fruits and vegetables from the list were available yet. Therefore, the photos also show some produce from Europe. We suspect this also has to do with the cold weather this spring. Hopefully, these products will be on sale from the Netherlands soon, as they normally grow here!
The benefits of seasonal fruit and vegetables
Supermarkets are full of fruit and vegetables. Why bother to pay attention to which fruit or vegetables are currently in season in the Netherlands? For one thing, it is better for the environment. Fruit or vegetables that have a longer transport route or are grown in heated greenhouses generally have a greater environmental impact. But did you also know that seasonal fruit and vegetables are better for your health? Because the transport route is shorter, the fruits or vegetables are riper before they are harvested. As a result, fewer nutrients are lost. Seasonal fruits and vegetables also contain more nutrients because they are stored for less time. Moreover, fewer pesticides are often used as they are less susceptible to diseases. Finally, it is usually a lot cheaper to buy seasonal fruit and vegetables.
Fruit or vegetables from the Netherlands are not always the most sustainable choice
Now that you are convinced of the benefits of seasonal fruits and vegetables, you can pay attention to them when you go shopping. Because the country of origin is indicated on the packaging, you may choose to buy fruit or vegetables from the Netherlands. Unfortunately, this is not always the most sustainable choice. This is because you cannot tell in the supermarket whether the fruit or vegetable was grown in a heated greenhouse. For example, a head of lettuce from the Netherlands may be the most sustainable choice in July; while in January the head of lettuce from Spain is more sustainable because it grows in the open air. Pretty confusing isn't it? To make it easier for you, we have figured out for you which fruits and vegetables grow in full Dutch soil or in unheated greenhouses in the Netherlands. For June, these are the following fruits and vegetables:
Dutch seasonal vegetables June:
- potato (inspiration recipe: tikka masala with lentils, pepper and potato)
- endive
- artichoke
- asparagus - (inspiration recipe: green asparagus from the vegetarian barbecue. Asparagus is only in season this month. How to store asparagus read in article seasonal fruits and vegetables May)
- cauliflower - (inspiration recipe: whole roasted cauliflower from the oven)
- broccoli - (inspiration recipe: easy recipe for the tastiest stir-fried vegetables)
- peas
- green celery
- kohlrabi
- head lettuce
- pak choi
- mangetout
- leeks (inspiration recipe: creamy celeriac and leek soup)
- turnip
- radish
- red beet
- savoy cabbage
- green bean (inspiration recipe: green beans and potato curry)
- spinach (inspiration recipe: spicy spinach Indian style)
- pointed cabbage (inspiration recipe: vegan rendang with pointed cabbage)
- tomato (inspiration recipe: vegan gnocchi with vegetables in tomato sauce)
- broad bean
- onion (inspiration recipe: vegan lentil soup)
- fennel
- warmoes
- watercress
- root (inspiration recipe: Moroccan-style carrots)
- summer purslane
Dutch seasonal fruit June:
- strawberry
- apricot
- blueberry
- raspberry
- cherry
- nectarine
- peach
- rhubarb
- red currant
- blackcurrant
June fruit can also be used to make delicious jams. So you can enjoy the summer fruit for months to come!
Tips for using and preserving June's seasonal fruit
Since the Dutch fruit season is only short, of course you want to make the most of it. Therefore, I have some ideas for you what you can do if you have more fruit in the house than you can eat:
- Make a tasty smoothie from overripe fruit.
- Try making your own jam. There is plenty of seasonal fruit suitable for this in June such as strawberries, apricots, raspberries or berries.
- When the temperature rises, nothing beats a nice ice cream. How about a homemade sorbet or a popsicle made from fruit?
- Don't have the time or inclination to be in the kitchen? Many kinds of fruit can be frozen. So you can enjoy sustainable and healthy fruit even in autumn and winter, when seasonal fruit is almost non-existent. Berries can be frozen without any problems. You can also freeze strawberries, apricots, raspberries, cherries and rhubarb. For precise instructions and more storage tips for fruit and vegetables, visit the website of Storage guide.
Seasonal fruit and vegetables in June: sustainable, healthy and cheap
We hope you can now more easily make conscious and healthy choices. And with a bit of luck, you'll also notice it in your wallet. Another little tip: bookmark this page. That way you'll always have it handy when you're in the shop and you can quickly find June's seasonal fruit or vegetables.
More sustainable tips from thegreenlist.nl
- The trick to saving energy while cooking? Passive cooking.
- Which oil is most durable for frying? You can read it here.
- Curious about July's seasonal vegetables? You can find it here.
Sources: Outdoor Living Feeling about the benefits of seasonal eating, Albert Heijn on the benefits of seasonal fruit and vegetables, VegetableGroente.nl on seasonal vegetables by country, Velt's seasonal calendar for the list of seasonal vegetables and seasonal fruit. Photo credits: jam: Michal Jarmoluk (Pixabay), other photos: thegreenlist.nl.
