Summer Is Here!

It has been a long time coming, but summer is finally here. Those brutal, blistering, cold months of winter are a distant memory. It is now the time of the year when we can enjoy all those fresh, new crop fruits and vegetables. They are certain to spoil us as are warm temperatures and extended daylight hours.

Herbs and Vegetables of June

Among the first crops to look for in our stores are our very own, Michigan-grown herbs. Our herbs are exclusively grown for Nino’s right in our own backyard, in Imlay City. Helena’s Herb Company has been growing herbs for Nino’s for over 25 years. The quality and freshness is second to none. So if you are looking for rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, chives, or marjoram, to name a few, now is the time to start enjoying Michigan-grown herbs.

Another popular choice is fresh-picked, bi-color corn. As you may have noticed, all of our stores have piles of fresh corn as you enter them. Although Michigan corn will not be ready for another month or so, the Florida and Georgia corn are in their peak seasons. They are sweet as sugar and a perfect side for any grilling menu.

A little fruity

As cherries head into their peak season, June is when they will be the sweetest. Bing variety cherries are what I prefer to have when they’re available. Year after year, the Bing variety cherry seems to be the most consistent and flavorful out of all the many varieties of cherries. Also, be on the lookout for Washington cherries, as we transition from California to Washington. Washington cherries tend to be a stronger fruit, due to growing in a cooler climate than the California variety. Then there are Michigan cherries, which are primarily used for processing. However, when they are available for simple eating, they are excellent. We were pretty much wiped out of last year’s crop due to extreme weather conditions, but hopefully, Mother Nature will be kinder to us all this year. Michigan cherries, if available, will be in towards the very end of June.

Another popular fruit to hit our market in June are the famous California grapes. Whether it be green or red grapes you desire, early June is just the beginning of a season of sweet, tasty grapes that will bring us deep into the fall season. Both green and red grapes will continue to get even sweeter as the summer months continue.

Along with strawberries, blueberries and raspberries are now joining the fun and pulling up a seat at the Berry table. You will notice that each of our stores has large displays of full-pint blueberries and raspberries, with the hope that you take advantage of their excellent pricing. Both blueberries and raspberries are more than half the price cheaper than they typically are in our winter months. Now is the time to stock up!

Around the World

As we celebrate our spring/summer months, parts of the world are at the end of their fall/winter seasons. Why is this important? This is important because if you simply enjoy apples or pears, the new crop from countries like New Zealand, Argentina, or Chile is just beginning. Please look for our country of origin signs on our displays or ask one of our managers to make sure you are enjoying the freshest fruit the WORLD has to offer.