Knowing which fruit and vegetables to buy month after month is essential. Do you know what to buy for the month of August?
We are in the heart of summer and it is one of the richest periods for seasonal fruit and vegetables . The month of August sees a great variety to bring to the table. The sun allows different types of vegetables to ripen, there are many summer vegetables that come to harvest during this month.
Table of fruit and vegetables for August
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Apricots |
Garlic |
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Watermelons |
Beets |
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Figs |
Carrots |
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Prickly pears |
Cucumbers |
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Mulberry |
Chicory |
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Raspberries |
Onion |
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Almonds |
Green beans |
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Melons |
Salad |
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Blueberries |
Eggplant |
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Blackberries |
Potatoes |
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Hazelnuts |
Peppers |
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Pears |
Tomatoes |
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Peaches |
Radish |
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Plums |
Radishes |
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Grape |
Rocket |
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Gooseberry |
Celery |
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Spinach |
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Zuchinis |
August vegetables: let's go into detail
The typical crops of this period are peppers, hot peppers, tomatoes and aubergines : they have their best harvest in August. Same thing goes for courgettes and cucumbers . If time permits, we can also find excellent salads and leafy vegetables: chard, chicory, lettuce, endive, rocket, celery, spinach, lamb's lettuce and songino are available.
For colorful salads, green light to corn, radishes and carrots : very available from the greengrocer and they also wink at the trolley, so don't feel guilty when you buy them.
The harvest time is this month, but we will see them throughout the autumn and winter: vegetables! Cabbage, cauliflower, leeks, fennel, turnip greens . As for legumes , beans, snow peas, chickpeas and green beans are harvested, while peas and broad beans may be available, if kept from the previous months. The same rule also applies to potatoes, onions, garlic and shallots : they are long-life vegetables and you can also find them in the coming months.
Herbs? We find basil, parsley, mint, sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano and marjoram .
August fruit: let's go into detail
What do we find almost everywhere in this period? Apricots, peaches, pears, apples, plums and plums . In the south , prickly pears also ripen but also watermelons and melons , symbolic fruits of summer! And if autumn hasn't arrived yet, even in August some grapes start to appear in the vineyards, which will then give their best in September. Other fruit harvested this month: berries and nuts.
Tomato puree: we start in August. Which tomatoes to choose?
The month of August, in many Italian regions, is the time for tomato preserves . Being very mature, large pots, vegetable mills and jars are ready. There are many varieties with which to make the various purees (San Marzano, Fiaschetto, Zagarise, Piccadilly, Cuore di Bue, Pachino, etc), but let's see some of them together.
San Marzano: the king of preserves
This variety has risked extinction, as canning industries have used and therefore supported the cultivation of more productive and resistant hybrids. The original San Marzano is a very delicate tomato that maintains its flavor for a long time, even when stored.
Fiaschetto di Torre Guaceto: the tomato of the ancient Apulian gastronomic tradition
This tomato also risked extinction, but thanks to the management body of the Brindisi reserves it has been completely recovered, despite the high production costs. The Fiaschetto tomato , which is obtained from strictly organic cultivation, is sweet, juicy and keeps for a long time.
Zagarise tomato: small but rich
Small but full of seeds, the Zagarise tomato is perfect for fresh consumption and excellent for storage. It is grown among the olive trees of the Sila National Park (in Calabria) and does not require irrigation.
The properties of August fruit and vegetables
We won't list all the properties of seasonal fruit and vegetables, but just a few to give you an idea of their benefits.
Rocket: stop intestinal problems
We assume that there are two types of rocket: wild and cultivated . The former has an intense flavour, yellow flowers and thin leaves, the latter has a delicate flavour, white flowers and broad leaves. Both, however, are herbaceous plants with numerous nutritional properties . Rocket is known for its beneficial effects during digestion, as it stimulates the production of gastric juices.
Thanks to the action of vitamin C it also helps recovery from the flu and is excellent for increasing the immune system . In the summer it is not to be underestimated because it has diuretic properties capable of eliminating toxins from the body. For those suffering from high blood pressure, rocket is a real help, as the potassium contained in it gives balance to blood pressure . Finally, in addition to accelerating the metabolism and therefore being indicated in low-calorie diets, it is also rich in iron , therefore ideal for those suffering from anemia.
Cucumbers: make yourself beautiful!
Few calories, takes away the looks and regenerates the body: what else ? Cucumber is excellent in salads, but it is also very good for the health of the whole body. Its water percentage is almost 100% (95 to be exact) and is ideal for hydrating the body and skin . Consuming this vegetable helps cleanse the pancreas and liver . Furthermore, the principles contained in the cucumber peel help regulate blood sugar , so it is useful in case of diabetes.
Figs: the good side of sugars
During the summer, a fruit that can help us purify the intestine is the fig; thanks to its seeds it cleans the intestines of toxins. Figs are allies for our body, because they contain iron, potassium, calcium and vitamin A, useful for protecting teeth, bones, skin and preventing internal inflammation . Furthermore, they contain omega 3 and omega 6, perfect in case of cardiovascular and circulatory system diseases . Let's not forget that they contain 100 calories every 50 grams, so they are ultra-sugary: in case of very hot days, to fill up on energy, they are very useful.
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