Fruits All fruits can be frozen whole or as a puree. Peel apricots and freeze in halves, or puree them using a blender and freeze in small portioned bags. You can also puree currants and freeze them in portioned bags.

Fruits and vegetables NYC Greenmarkets Network of markets Fifty markets in this network are located in the five boroughs of New York. Prices are not as exorbitant as at Union Square Market. Only farmers and local producers are allowed to sell their products here. Rare seasonal vegetables such as chayote

What fruits are grown in Spain and when do they ripen?

Spain is one of the largest suppliers of fruit in Europe and the world. This is not to say that Spain is an ideal country for agriculture. Most of the country's territory is occupied by mountains, and some regions receive insufficient rainfall. In Spain, approximately 20 million hectares of land could theoretically be used to grow crops. But only one tenth of them are of good quality. However, thanks to the southern climate and hot sun, a lot of fruit grows here. For the domestic market, fruits in Spain are grown in small quantities in almost all regions of the country, little by little. And for export, some types of products are grown in certain areas. Below we will talk about what fruits there are in Spain, their ripening by month and distribution by region.

Fruit prices

What fruits grow in Spain

The Spanish name of the fruit is given in parentheses.

Popular fruits

Blackberry (Mora)

Blackberries are small in size and slightly elongated in shape. In appearance, they seem to consist of balls with seeds inside. The size of an average berry is 1.5─2 cm. Ripe berries are black. In Spain, blackberries grow as a weed. Most often it is added to various pies and other baked goods.

Grapes (Raim)

A large number of grapes and a wide variety of varieties are grown in Spain. It grows almost throughout the country. At the same time, wine grape varieties practically do not go on sale, but are processed in wineries. The lowest prices for this fruit in Spain are set in the fall.

Watermelon (Sindria)

Watermelons in Spain are not as popular as here in Russia. There are no usual striped Astrakhan watermelons here, but the local varieties are also quite tasty. Their peculiarity is that most of them are seedless.

Melon (Melo)

The climate in Spain is well suited for growing melons. Therefore, the melons here are very juicy and sweet. Classic elongated melons here reach a weight of 6 kg. You can buy melon in Spain all year round. The main season is summer and early autumn. There are 3 or 4 different varieties of melons grown here. There are summer and winter varieties. Among the unusual varieties, one can note a small round melon with orange pulp. It has a strong aroma and is called “French”.

Plum (Pruna)

Spain has an excellent climate for growing plums. The most fragrant plums here are the wild ones. Their shape is elongated, and the color of the peel is bluish-blue. Among the local plums, one can distinguish varieties such as red beauty, arandana, claudia reina, broom, claudia, golden, and santa rosa.

Pear (Pera)

In Spain, pears grow yellow or green with granular flesh. They are no different from pears growing in other countries. The most popular varieties of fruit are Conference, d'Anjou, Pacams, White, Ercolini, Passa Crassana, Sant Joan.

Less common fruits

Chirimoya (Chirimoya)

This fruit has a sweet pulp with the taste of creamy ice cream. Chirimoya spoils quickly if the skin of the fruit is bruised or damaged.

Grnat (Magrana)

The fruit is slightly larger than an apple. The skin is about 5 millimeters thick. It is dry and its color can range from bright red to light brown. Inside are seeds enclosed in juicy scarlet pulp. In Spain, varieties of pomegranates with soft seeds are grown. These varieties can be eaten whole without spitting out the seeds.

Sharon (Sharoni)

Sharon is a hybrid of apple and Japanese persimmon. This fruit differs from persimmon in its pure form in that it contains less astringent. Therefore, it tastes more pleasant and there are no seeds in the pulp. In Spain it is eaten both fresh and baked.

This fruit is also called Japanese medlar. It has a thin, durable peel of a bright orange color. The shape of the fruit is ovoid. The pulp is juicy and fleshy, and there are large grains in the center. Varieties such as Tanaka and Algerian grow in Spain. In Spain it is consumed raw. The fruit perfectly quenches thirst.

Tsabr (Figa de Moro)

This tropical fruit came to Spain from South America. The plant reaches a height of 5 meters. The tsabra fruit has toxic fluff on the surface of the peel. It may stick into the skin, causing itching.

Persimmon (Kaki)

A round fruit with red-orange skin. The peel of the fruit is thin and smooth, and the pulp is juicy and tender. But there are astringents, which not everyone likes. There can be up to 8-10 seeds inside the pulp. In Spain it is eaten without anything. Persimmon season here begins in the fall.

Date (Datil)

Ripe dates are dark brown in color, regardless of the variety. The taste of these fruits is slightly sour and has a persistent aftertaste. The shape of dates is oval, and the size can be from 4 to 8 centimeters. In Spain they are sold both raw and candied. Here it is customary to drink them with tea.

Coconut (Coco)

The coconut has a hand-shelled shell with dark brown fibers. Coconut flesh is dense and hard, white in color. There is liquid inside the shell. The juice of this fruit is consumed raw, and the pulp is used in confectionery in the form of shavings.

Passion fruit (Fruta de la pacio)

This fruit weighs about 30 grams and can reach 8 cm in diameter. Passion fruit has a white layer on the outside, and inside there is aromatic yellow-green pulp with a large number of seeds. In Spain, passion fruit is used as a flavoring in various fruit salads.

Fig (Figa kolar)

Different varieties of figs can be oval, round or pear-shaped. The color of the fruit can be dark blue, green, purple. The color of the flesh can also vary from purple to light pink. Figs grow on trees. In Spain, this fruit is usually used to make dried fruits.

Guayava (Guayava)

Depending on the variety, this fruit can be elongated or round. Guava pulp is dense and hard. In the center of the fruit there is a softer and juicier layer in which the seeds are located.

Mango (Mango)

Mango fruits are oval in shape and weigh from 0.2 to 2 kilograms. The peel of the fruit is smooth and durable. It may have a red-yellow and bright green color, which is diluted with brown inclusions. Mango has soft, juicy and refreshing pulp. In Spain, fruits are used as dessert. In addition, in Spanish cuisine it can be found in some recipes for preparing meat dishes. For example, as a side dish with duck liver.

Papaya (Papaya)

This fruit has an oval shape and a dense yellow-green peel. The pulp is bright orange, and in the center of the fruit there are small black seeds. Papaya is usually eaten with a spoon. People with allergies should be careful when consuming this fruit.

Paraguayo (Paraguayo)

This fruit is a type of peach. Paraguayo fruits have a red-yellow skin with fibers. The pulp is dense and sweet, has a light cream color. The shape of the fruit is usually flattened, and there is a hard nut inside.

Tamarillo is often called the tomato tree. In appearance, this fruit really looks like a tomato. It comes in red, orange or yellow. Tamarillo fruits have a sweet and spicy taste. The Spaniards peel this fruit and eat it with a spoon. Tamarillo fruits contain many vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are beneficial to the body. However, it contains a small amount of calories. The main plantations of this fruit are located in Spain near Murcia.

Related materials:

The most delicious and ripe fruits and vegetables are sold not in supermarkets, but in markets!

Peaches/melocotón

Seasonality: from late May to early October.

Important: in Spain, crispy fruits are valued, not soft ones. The peaches will also be crispy, but at the same time ripe and sweet.

The almond blossoms are a fabulous sight, worthy of a visit in February, during the non-tourist season. But you will need transport: almond plantations are hidden in the mountains. Choose a narrower path away from the sea - and go ahead! You will remember the mountain slopes wrapped in white and pink clouds for a long time.

Unharvested almonds easily sag on the branches until the next harvest, so the opportunity to pick nuts from a tree (even from a flowering one), break them with a stone from the road and eat right there in the mountains is great entertainment for a tourist, and the nut may seem like the most delicious almond to you. did you eat!

Loquat japonica/níspero

Seasonality: April June.

This is a rather curious fruit, which is cultivated in our area in the Callosa del Sarría valley (easy to find in the city of the same name). The Algar Falls and the Dinosaur Park, popular with tourists, are located in the same valley, so you have many chances to see the evergreen medlar gardens with your own eyes. Most often, the attention of travelers is primarily attracted by the nets with which the plantations are covered to protect them from birds, strong winds and hail, because this fruit is extremely delicate and is easily damaged. That is why it is practically not exported.

This plant originates from Japan and China, but also thrives in this valley, thanks to climatic conditions, the presence of a sufficient amount of water of excellent quality (from the Algar River, whose crystal clear waters have long been considered healing) and the human factor - careful care.

Medlar is a small oval fruit the size of a large plum, yellow in color, with a sweet and sour taste.

It has certificate confirming the designation of origin: D.O. Nisperos de Callosa del Sarriá (link - explanation of the term) since 1992 u.

Apricots/Albaricoque and nectarines/nectarina

Seasonality: from May to August

Nectarines can also include, perhaps, a mysterious fruit, which is called here “paraguayo”, and in Russian - “flat” or “fig” peach (the name “donat”, that is, “doughnut” in English, was also found). Unfortunately, there are no photos, but you probably know what we're talking about. So, almost all summer you can buy shiny peaches, apricots, Paraguays at the market... and enjoy life. And if you also have a bite with mascarpone cheese, mmm...

And let us remind you once again: crunchy, not soft, fruits are valued here, so it’s completely normal and not scary if said fruits are hard - it’s still delicious! Just slightly different varieties.

Strawberry/fresa

Seasonality: from February to May, although you can still find something in June, as well as in the second small harvest, in September. The rest of the year - imported or greenhouse, worse.

Cherry/Cereza

Seasonality: from April to July.

Excellent cherries, what else can you say...

Watermelon/sandía

Seasonality: from May to October

Of course, these are not Astrakhan sugar watermelons, but a simpler option, but nevertheless quite tasty. Distinctive feature: many varieties are seedless, you don’t have to spit, it’s very convenient.

Melon/melon

Seasonality: Melons of at least 3-4 varieties (there are summer and winter) are presented in stores and on the market almost all year round, although the summer months and the beginning of autumn are considered the season.

Vegetables

Tomatoes

Seasonality: all year round

I would like to start with this seemingly familiar vegetable, because it is about this that we most often hear complaints from customers: “Your tomatoes don’t taste good!”

This is true and not true.

Of course, if you buy the cheapest ones in the supermarket, they will be "plastic". And you shouldn’t expect them to taste like the ones your grandmother grows: this is mass production...

It’s worth buying tomatoes at the market, and if not, then at least choose other varieties:

• cherry,
• tomatoes on a branch and with the smell of a greenhouse,
• Raff tomatoes - in the photo, greenish, noticeably more expensive (up to 3-4 euros per kg). They should be exactly this color, no need to leave them to “ripen”!
• kumato - black-green tomatoes.

Artichokes/Alcachofa

Seasonality: from October to April

An unusual looking green cone, a very tasty and healthy vegetable. It's very easy to cook, but you have to be a completely ruthless and firm person to have the strength to cut off all the excess from it: 1/2-2/3 - from the top, plus all the outer leaves. All that remains is the tender center, which can be boiled in salted water or grilled.

Avocado/Aguacate

Seasonality:

In the store - all year round. At the same time, there are our own - smaller and lighter - and Latin American ones - usually larger, green-brown, more wrinkled. Usually our own - in summer and autumn, cheaper. You can see with your own eyes an avocado on a tree near the parking lot and entrance to the Algar Falls area.

Avocado, by the way, is a fruit! An important nuance: it does not ripen on the tree, does not become soft, it ripens after being picked, so buying a hard avocado is normal, let it sit for a while. Ripe avocados are very tasty; most often they are simply sliced, sprinkled with salt and pepper and eaten with bread. You can spread it on a sandwich instead of butter - under sausage, jamon or a piece of red fish.

Alicantine cucumber/Alficoz

Seasonality: spring Summer

This something long and green in the photo is called alficoz, in common parlance - Alicantine cucumber.

What is this?

To taste - like n gentle non-bitter cucumber, goes great in a vegetable salad or as a snack.

From a botany point of view- and even more interesting, this... melon!

There is no translation of the word "alficoz" into Russian, and if you torture Wikipedia (find a term in Spanish and go to Russian), you can figure out the name "squirting cucumber"(which, by the way, no longer a melon, but a pumpkin), in Spanish vernacular it is called the same word alficoz, although, judging by the picture, it is still a different vegetable. Or fruit. Or a berry... listen, how do the botanists themselves understand this? :)

This thing is sold in the summer in markets and shops in the province of Alicante and surrounding areas (but not throughout Spain. For example, in Barcelona, ​​with this vegetable... or fruit... in general, few people are familiar with this Alicante cucumber!). If you are in our area, take a chance and try it!

Eggplant/berenjena and zucchini/calabacin

Seasonality: can be found in markets all year round. These colorful eggplants are usually local, Valencian.

Fennel

Seasonality: in general, all year round, although it is easier to find in winter.

Fennel is a great celery substitute for those who don't like it. Or an addition for those who like it :) In raw wine it has a pronounced anise taste, in roasted wine it is very gentle, the anise disappears. It goes great in frying for soup, separately fried in pureed soups, sometimes added to pies, it can also be stewed and baked, used as a side dish (especially with white fish). The thing is quite exotic.

Where to buy: at the market (but usually you have to run around and look), in large hypermarkets such as Carrefour, Alcampo.

Mushrooms

Seasonality: Available all year round, but the best choice is from October to January.

Do you like going to restaurants? Then, when you are in Spain, knowledge about food and visiting a restaurant will definitely come in handy. In this lesson you will find structured vocabulary on the topics of fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, seasonings and drinks. You will also learn how to describe any product and place an order, and several dialogues will help you navigate when ordering in cafes and restaurants.

Lexico: “Me gustan los melocotones y las peras”
Vocabulary: “I like peaches and pears”

Familiarize yourself with the basic vocabulary on the topic of food:

Frutas - fruits

Estas peras son las mejores, aunque también las más caras. These pears are the best, but also the most expensive.

Verduras - vegetables

Para esta salsa necesito un huevo, un diente de ajo, sal y aceite. For this sauce I need an egg, a clove of garlic, salt and olive oil.

Lácteos - dairy products

Póngame un café con leche, por favor. Please give me coffee with milk.

La carne - meat

Póngame cuatro filetes de salmón, por favor. Give me 4 salmon fillets, please.

Me gustan las chuletas de cordero. I like lamb cutlets.

Las especias - seasonings

¡Qué rica está la salsa! - What a delicious sauce!

Otros - others

¿Quiere un poco más de sopa? Would you like some more soup?

Las bebidas - drinks

El café (solo, con leche, cortado) - coffee (black, with milk, with a small amount of milk)
El té - tea
El zumo (de + ...) / jugo (de + ...) - juice
El refresco - soft drink
La cerveza - beer
El agua mineral - mineral water
- Spanish sparkling wine
El coñac - cognac
El vino (tinto, blanco, seco) - wine (red, white, dry)

Quiero una botella de agua mineral. ¿Con gas o sin gas? I would like a bottle of mineral water. With or without gas?

Ejercicio. Continúa las frases / Exercise. Continue the sentences.

1. Mi fruta preferida es…
2. Mi verdura preferida es…
3. Almuerzo con…
4. Suelo cenar con…
5. Normalmente mi desayuno consiste de…
6. Me gusta cocinar...
7. Para beber me gusta...
8. Prefiero… de los dulces.

1. La cereza
2. El tomate
3. La sopa
4. La ensalada
5. Tortilla and queso
6. Verduras and carne
7. Te verde
8. Pastel

Find out how to describe food, this can be useful to you in a restaurant.

Esta sopa está sosa, le falta sal. This soup is tasteless and lacks salt.

Creo que esta carne está demasiado salada. I think this meat is over-salted.

Sabroso, rico - delicious
Ligero - light
Agrio - sour
Dulce - sweet
Salado - salty
Picante - spicy
Grasiento - bold
Magro - lean (low-fat)
Soso - fresh

Familiarize yourself with the words you need when visiting a cafe or restaurant.

La carta - menu
El aperitivo - appetizer
El fiambre - cold appetizer
El primer plato - first course
La sopa - soup
El caldo - broth
La guarnición - side dish
La ensalada - salad
La cuenta - score
El camarero - waiter

Words and expressions that you can use when you come to a cafe or restaurant:

Voy (Vamos) a tomar - I will drink (we will drink).
Quiero... - I want...
¿Puede traernos la carta, por favor? — Could you bring us a menu?
¿Está libre esta mesa? — Is this table free?
De primero... - First things first
De segundo... - On to the second
De postre... - For dessert
Tráigame el aceite, por favor - Please bring me some olive oil.
Tráigame(tráiganos) la cuenta - Bring me (us) the bill
La cuenta, por favor. - The check, please.

Here's what you can hear from the waiter:

¿Tiene reserve? — Do you have a reservation?
Aquí la carta - Here is the menu
¿Qué desea? - What do you wish?
¿Qué va a tomar? - What will you drink?
¿Qué van a tomar? - What (plural) will you drink?
¿Y para beber? - What about drinks?
¿Y de postre? - What about dessert?
¿Les sirvo...? - Should I give it to you?
¿Algo más? - Something else?

Diálogos /Dialogues

En cafeteria / In the cafe

Mario: Buenos días. Good afternoon.
V.: ¿Qué desea? What do you want?
M.: ¿Tiene tortilla de patatas? Do you have tortilla (Spanish potato omelette)?
V.: Sí. ¿Quiere la salsa? Yes. Would you like some sauce for it?
M.: Sí, por favor. Yes, please.
También quiero el bistec. Besides, I'd like a steak.
V.: No tenemos, lo siento. Unfortunately, we don't.
M.: Entonces quiero el salchichón. Then, smoked sausage.
C.: Muy bien. Very good.
M.: También quiero la tarta de manzana y café solo. Also, I would like apple pie and black coffee.
V.: Estupendo. Great.
¿Algo más? Something else?
M.: No, gracias. No thanks.
V.: Son 20 euros. Your fee is 20 euros.
M.: Aquí tiene. Here you are

En restaurante / In the restaurant

Alejandro: Vamos a tomar el menú del día. Let's take the dish of the day.
De primero quiero el gazpacho y de segundo la chuleta de ternera. I'll have gazpacho for first, and veal cutlet for second.
Pablo: Para mí los espárragos y el bistéc. And I'll have asparagus and steak.
Camarero: ¿Cómo prefiere su bistec? How to cook your steak?
Pablo: Lo prefiero poco frito. I prefer it rare.
Camarero: ¿Y usted, señora? What about you, senora?
Penélope: Pues, voy a tomar la paella y una ensalada mixta. Well, I'll take the paella and salad.
Camarero: ¿Y para beber? And the drinks.
Alejandro: Tráiganos una botella de vino seco y dos cervezas. Bring us a bottle of dry wine and two beers.
Camarero: Bien, ¿qué quieren de postre? Okay, what do you want for dessert?
Pablo: Dos helados y una tarta, un café con leche y un café solo. Two scoops of ice cream, a piece of cake, coffee with milk and black coffee.
Y tráiganos la cuenta, por favor. And bring us the bill, please.