There is so much to love about summer. The longer days often spent splashing in the pool under the bright sun. The way we linger outside as the sunset paints the sky and the lightning bugs begin to glow. The way the rhythm of our days can change so the pace slows and we may be able to sleep in, or linger longer over a cup of morning coffee, even if it’s only for a week or two when we change locations for a vacation. Summer is, indeed, a beautiful season.
It’s also one of the best seasons for fruit! Sweet strawberries, lush peaches, juicy watermelon, tasty mangoes, ripe nectarines, sweet cherries, fresh blueberries – there are so many good ones to choose from. These summer staples can be easily found at local grocery stores or farmer’s markets, so it makes it easy to keep them stocked. I know my fridge and fruit bowl always have a few of these staples all summer long.
Here at Ashley’s Pastries, we plan our summer treats based on the tasty fruits of the season.
In June, it’s all about the lush, delicious strawberries.
When the calendar flips to July, we’ll flip our focus to blueberries and raspberries.
In August, it becomes all things peach.
From donuts, cookies, cupcakes, pies and cakes, you’ll find our cases full of the tastiest fruits each month.
We believe in using fresh, local, high-quality ingredients in our bakery treats. Not only do these fruits provide good nutritional content – blueberries are full of antioxidants and are high in potassium and vitamin C, cherries help with arthritis and inflammatory conditions, watermelon helps you hydrate and relieves muscle soreness – but they are a great complement to a meal or a for a quick snack. Throw a handful of blueberries in your breakfast yogurt, add fresh cherries to your plate at a picnic and keep watermelon slices chilled and handy for kids to grab for a refreshing snack.
We also believe in supporting local, just as you support us. We partner with local farmers markets in the area. If you haven’t checked one out yet, we highly recommend it!
Farmers markets have lots of delicious fruits and veggies in abundance. You can often find produce at a better price than the grocery store, too. Grab the family and everyone can help pick out the produce.
Need to know where to go? Here are a few we’d recommend checking out:
- Oakwood Farmers Market 22 Orchard Street, Dayton
- Hidden Valley Orchards 5474 N. State Route 48, Lebanon
- Fulton Farms 2393 OH-202, Troy
Soak it up and enjoy the yummy fruits, the longer days, the fun of it all – after all, summertime is the best time!