In The Kitchen Ingredient Guides

What's in Season - June Produce Guide

What's in season in June? Check out recipes for cherries, strawberries, blueberries, apricots, cucumbers, zucchini and more!

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Elise Bauer
Published June 14, 2018
Elise Bauer

June Produce Guide

Hello June and welcome to month 6 of our Monthly Seasonal Produce Guide!

With June comes the tail end of spring and the the start of the glorious bountiful summer produce season.

What a month for fruit! Strawberries starting coming in a month ago, and now they are joined by cherries, apricots, and blueberries. It's the season for tropical fruit as well—pineapples, mangoes, and papaya.

For veggies, we may still find remnants of spring—local asparagus, morels, favas, and sweet peas. The first zucchini of the season arrive, as well as cucumbers, peppers, and even corn. Lettuces abound, along with radishes, carrots, and cauliflower.

Cherries
Elise Bauer

What's your favorite early summer fruit or vegetable?

For me, June is all about the cherries and apricots. Cherries ripen here in Sacramento in late May early June, and usually all at once. If you have a cherry tree, you'll need buckets!

Just get to the cherries before the birds do. Sweet bing cherries and Rainier cherries start arriving from Washington state in mid June.

Summer Produce
Elise Bauer

If you have a generous friend with a Bleinheim apricot tree, you're in luck! Bleinheims are the sweetest, most flavorful variety of apricots. But they are delicate, so usually what we get at the market is a sturdier variety.

If the fruit is hard, it won't be pleasant to eat. Wait until the apricot gives a little before cutting into one.

Scroll down for the recipes!

  • Cherries

  • Cherry Clafoutis

    Cherry Clafouti
    Elise Bauer

    This classic French dessert is a custard with fresh cherries baked inside along with slivered almonds, almond and vanilla.

  • Cherry Hand Pies

    Hand Pies with Cherries
    Nick Evans

    Store-bought puff pastry makes quick work of these sweet-tart cherry hand pies! They're a treat that's easy to share.

  • Cherry Frozen Yogurt

    BEST Cherry Frozen Yogurt
    Elise Bauer

    Cherry frozen yogurt made with fresh or frozen cherries is EASY to make! The tart yogurt intensifies the sweet cherry flavor.

    Continue to 5 of 32 below.

  • Strawberries

  • Strawberry Ice Cream

    Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe
    Sally Vargas

    Do you love strawberry ice cream? Like, REALLY love strawberry ice cream? Then this is the recipe for you. Fresh strawberries and velvety texture, this is the ultimate summer treat.

  • Microwave Strawberry Jam

    Microwave Strawberry Jam
    Elise Bauer

    So easy! Small batch strawberry jam that you make in a microwave oven. Cooks in 15 minutes! Easy cleanup.

  • Strawberry Arugula Quinoa Salad

    Strawberry Quinoa Arugula Salad
    Elise Bauer

    Quinoa salad with fresh strawberries, arugula, toasted almonds, mint and a citrus vinaigrette

    Continue to 9 of 32 below.

  • Blueberries

  • Blueberry Pie

    Elise Bauer

    My favorite pie to make in summer is this simple, classic blueberry pie! With the easiest, tastiest, flakiest homemade pie crust.

  • Blueberry Pitcher Margaritas

    Margarita Recipe with Blueberries serve
    Elise Bauer

    Want to up your margarita game? Try this spin on a classic margarita infused with blueberries, lime and mint. It's amazing!

  • Lemon Blueberry Ricotta Pound Cake

    Lemon Blueberry Ricotta Pound Cake
    Elise Bauer

    Blueberries and lemon? Ricotta cheese in a pound cake? Yes, please! Sweet and lemony, with a delicate crumb, this cake tastes like summer.

    Continue to 13 of 32 below.

  • Apricots

  • Rustic Apricot Tart

    Rustic Apricot Tart
    Elise Bauer

    Too hot to turn on the oven? This Apricot Rustic Tart comes with instructions on how to bake it on a grill.

  • Apricot Chicken

    Apricot Chicken in Bowl With Fork
    Sally Vargas

    Got fresh apricots? Make this easy Apricot Chicken skillet dinner! It's ready in under an hour and makes a great change from your usual weeknight chicken routine. (You can swap in dried apricots, too.)

  • Mangoes & Papaya

    Continue to 17 of 32 below.

  • How to Cut a Mango

    Ripe mango on a cutting board with a knife
    Elise Bauer

    Cutting and dicing a mango is EASY, once you see how it's done.

  • Mango Salsa

    Mango Salsa
    Elise Bauer

    Mango salsa with fresh diced mango, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro and lime. Perfect with seafood!

  • Curried Chicken Salad with Mango

    Curry Chicken Salad
    Sheryl Julian

    Looking for a fun spin on classic chicken salad? Try this version with curry powder and sliced mango! It's as beautiful as it is delicious.

  • Papaya, Prosciutto, and Lime

    Prosciutto Papaya Lime
    Elise Bauer

    Slices of fresh papaya served with thinly sliced prosciutto and fresh squeezed lime. (No prosciutto? Just skip it and sprinkle with lime.)

    Continue to 21 of 32 below.

  • Cucumbers

  • Cucumber Salad with Mint and Feta

    Cucumber Mint Feta Salad
    Elise Bauer

    Using delicate, thin skinned cucumbers, this cucumber salad recipe includes mint, feta cheese, red onions and sliced radishes with a simple oil and vinegar dressing.

  • Cucumber Salad with Tahini Dressing

    Cucumber Salad with Tahini Dressing
    Elise Bauer

    This cucumber salad is amazing with tahini dressing, lemon and herbs!

  • Zucchini

    Continue to 25 of 32 below.

  • Roasted Zucchini with Garlic

    Roasted Zucchini with garlic and black pepper on a serving platter
    Elise Bauer

    The easiest way to cook zucchini is to roast it! Cut it lengthwise, toss with olive oil, garlic, and seasonings, and roast until browned.

  • Zucchini-Feta Frittata

    Zucchini Feta Frittata
    Sheryl Julian

    Here's an easy vegetarian frittata with shredded zucchini, potatoes, feta, and Monterey jack cheese. Reheats well, so good for leftovers!

  • Lemon Rosemary Zucchini Bread

    Lemon Rosemary Zucchini Bread
    Elise Bauer

    Like zucchini bread? Try this lightly sweet lemony zucchini bread with rosemary, you'll love it!

  • Corn

    Continue to 29 of 32 below.

  • The Easiest Way to Microwave Corn on the Cob

    Microwave Corn on the Cob
    Elise Bauer

    Cooking corn couldn't be easier! In the microwave, husk on, four minutes. Cut off bottom. Slip off husk. It works!

  • Grilled Mexican Street Corn (Elote)

    Mexican Street Corn topped with crema and cilantro on a plate
    Megan Keno

    Mexican street corn is a staple of summer and it's easy to make at home! Top char-grilled corn on the cob with a tangy, creamy sauce, sprinkle with crumbled cheese and dive in. Make this for your next backyard cook-out!

  • Escarole

  • Sautéed Escarole

    Easy Escarole Sauté
    Elise Bauer

    Quick and easy sauté of escarole leaves, a lovely bitter chicory green.