Hoppe Ever After

My favorite season? SUMMER. Endlessly, summer. “Oh, but the heat!” I do not care. I love the heat, I’m like a lizard that will lay on the hot cement and soak up the rays. I love being warm and the sun and jumping into a cool body of water to cool off. I love everything that comes with summer – the in-season produce, popsicles, chilled drinks, pool days, long nights, warm nights, summer storms, flowers, Pick Your Own (PYO) farms, animals out and about, and so on and so forth. So when one of my oldest friends invited me to go peach picking one day, there was no doubt I’d be there. We visited Linvilla Orchards in Media, PA. They had so many options for PYO produce and flowers, as well as a garden center, grocery market, and beer garden. It was my dream way to spend an afternoon, quite honestly. So we picked our peaches and I let them ripen for a few days before making a peach cobbler recipe, paired with a side of vanilla ice cream. HEAVEN.

There’s something so special about picking your own produce, and especially for me, peaches. I grew up spending summer days going to our local PYO farm with my Nana, and we would pick boxes and boxes of peaches (and apples and strawberries). When we brought them home, my mom would can them for the season. So, I guess picking peaches and baking with them made me super nostalgic to want to write about it. Picking produce creates memories with our families and helps us to ensure we know where our food is coming from. In a culture that seems to be coming out of an era of ultra processed and easy/quick-to-make foods, to me, knowing where my food comes helps me feel more in control of what my family eats. Getting to talk to the farmers who grow it and knowing what they use to help grow their product just ensures even further that our food is safe.

In-season produce comes down to two things: location and season. Typically in August, you’ll find peaches, citrus fruits, melons, fresh herbs, peas, squash, and tomatoes. If you’re ever interested in knowing more specific produce based on the season and location, I love using Seasonal Food Guide to help me search.

Benefits of peaches: Peaches are full of antioxidants, support heart and eye health, contain vitamin C for immunity, are full of fiber to support healthy digestion, support cell renewal for health skin, are low on the glycemic index, and contain a healthy supply of potassium and magnesium for your body.

My challenge for you, find a local PYO farm, find a favorite recipe, and cook yourself some fresh & healthy sides and a fun dessert this season!