2024 Spring Fruit Guide

The spring equinox is behind us, which means we’ve officially entered “transition season.” In the fruit business, that’s what we call the period when warm rain drizzles down and spring flowers start to bloom. Citrus takes its final bow while berries and stone fruits wait in the wings for their time to shine. 

In this Spring Fruit Guide, you’ll find a sneak peek at the bounty you can expect from The FruitGuys in the weeks and months ahead. We hope you look forward to seeing these fruits in your boxes as much as we look forward to packing them. Remember, eating fresh fruit is one of the best ways to stay healthy and support your immune system!

Citrus

Citrus is in transition, so enjoy these last few weeks of pummelos, blood oranges, Cara Caras, and sweet Star Ruby grapefruits. The sweet, seedless Ojai Pixie tangerines from our friends at Friend’s Ranches in Ojai, California, are particularly beautiful this year and will stick around through May. Fun fact: The White House has served Ojai Pixies three times!

Meanwhile, Navel oranges (the so-called “winter” orange) will leave the stage. In late spring or early summer, Valencia oranges will replace them. These sweet citrus morsels are great for eating and juicing. Curious about the difference between the two varieties? Read Navels vs. Valencias to find out all about it. 

Strawberries

A fresh crop of delicious California strawberries is almost here. If you don’t adore them, see our 13 reasons to enjoy strawberries. It just might make you a strawberry lover. 

In the U.S., the strawberry industry operates primarily in the southern, central, and coastal areas of California. Those are prime spots because strawberry production is best suited to moderate climates with warm days and low humidity. This year, we plan to source many of our strawberries from our friends at JSM Organics in Aromas, California, near the central coast.

Low in calories, high in taste, and packed with vitamin C, these heart-shaped fruits are always a favorite. Try our recipe for Balsamic Black Pepper Strawberries if you feel like getting creative in the kitchen after reading the rest of our Spring Fruit Guide.

Avocados

Avocados are coming! The rich, creamy flavor of the Fuerte avocado, which is listed in the Ark of Taste, is beloved by growers and connoisseurs alike. This variety got its name (which means “strong” in Spanish) after a bud transplanted from Atlixco, Mexico, to Altadena, California, survived the Great Freeze of 1913, which destroyed much of Southern California’s fruit crops. We think you’ll have strong feelings about this gem of an avocado once you taste it. 

We’ll also include batches of the Fuerte’s more well-known sibling—the velvety, delicious Hass avocado—in some of our mixes starting in April. Avocados are healthy and delicious, and if you’re worried about their impact on the planet, check out our four tips for enjoying avocados sustainably. 

Stone Fruit

Our Spring Fruit Guide wouldn’t be complete without a discussion of the delicious and much-anticipated stone fruit. The first peaches of the season will make their appearance in late April. Ours will come from growers in the Salton Sea region of California. By the end of April, we will see both peach and nectarine harvests underway across the Golden State. (Fun fact: Nectarines technically are peaches, but they carry a recessive gene that makes them a touch sweeter and gives them smooth skin.)

Cherries from farms like The Flavor Tree Fruit Company and Ferrari Farms are also on the horizon, with California’s cherry season starting in mid-to-late April and peaking during the last few weeks of May. These bite-sized stone fruits are delicious and naturally rich in melatonin—a hormone produced in the brain associated with immunity-boosting, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. 

Customers in the Midwest and Northeast should start seeing California stone fruit in FruitGuys boxes in May, with local harvests starting up by late June or early July. When your first peaches arrive, making Poached Vanilla Peaches is a fantastic way to celebrate them.

Apples and Pears

We’re lucky to partner with local apple growers across the U.S. that can supply our customers throughout the spring. Their cutting-edge cold storage abilities keep their apples crisp and sweet just about all year. 

This spring’s Washington apples may include distinctive varieties like the firm and juicy Cosmic Crisp ®, the tart and refreshing Pink Lady ®, and the extra-sweet and faintly spiced Sweetie. We also expect popular varieties like the Fuji, Braeburn, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, and Honeycrisp to appear in our mixes. (Read more about Washington apples here.) 

From the nutrient-dense pear family, we’ve got elegant Boscs (distinguished by their dark gold skin and cinnamon russeting) and d’Anjous still available this time of year.

Fruit Storage & Ripening

Our fresh fruit storage and ripening tips are always helpful to review before you get your next FruitGuys box—no matter what’s inside. To see the varieties in your box this week, check out this week’s mixes and choose your region. 

That’s it for our Spring Fruit Guide. Enjoy the season’s bounty, and we’ll check back in with a summer guide in late June.