The summer season is in full swing and that means the produce section of your supermarket is quickly filling up! Here’s a guide to what’s ripe in the heartland.

Topping the list is the tomato. This is peak season for tomatoes of all sorts of colors, shapes, and sizes. In fact, dozens of different types of tomatoes are now ripe and ready for you to enjoy. Besides the typical red tomato, you’ll find the green zebra variety, yellow tomatoes, and even orange tomatoes. To find out more, we met with Produce Manager Jerry Love at Corti Brothers in Sacramento. He explained the difference between a red and yellow tomato. "The yellow tomatoes have less acid and they’re a milder flavor," he said. "You can use them in salads for the different colors." The green zebra variety is less sweet and more tart than a red tomato. If you don’t find these varieties in your supermarket, try a specialty food store or your local farmers’ market.

Next on our list is a California crop with an international flavor. Red Stockton onions are grown in Stockton, but they have an Italian connection. "They originated in Italy and were brought to Stockton. They have a flatter shape than a typical red onion and they’re much sweeter," explained Jerry.

On another sweet note, the summer season also brings us plump and juicy nectarines and peaches. If you want to try something a little different, white peaches and white rose nectarines are sweeter than regular peaches and have a white flesh. But, here’s something to keep in mind if you do buy these sweet treats. Jerry said, "They have a shorter shelf life because of the sugar. It causes the fruit to break down…so you want to make sure and eat these right away."

If you’re still not ready to give up sweet summer corn, you’re in luck! Sweet corn is still going strong in some areas of the state. Because of good growing conditions this year, the crop should continue through October.

Mounds of melons are also available ranging from the somewhat sweet canary melon to the milder casaba melon. Jerry says the sweetest melon of them all is the crenshaw melon. It has a cantaloupe flesh to it and a great flavor.

Finally, if you’re looking for the best buy of the season, Jerry says tomatoes are your best bet. Because there are so many varieties and so much volume, prices tend to drop this time of year. So, stock up and enjoy the fresh flavors of the summer season!!!

If you have additional questions or comments about this story, please E-mail Producer/Reporter Allison Lund Thompson at athompson@kvie.org.