Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of the summer season not just for us but for produce as well. You’ll soon see less citrus, apples and pears at your grocer and farmer’s markets and more summer fruit and vegetables, ones that will be great to use this weekend especially if you are entertaining.

By Memorial Day new potatoes are being dug up all over the US. May and June potatoes are among the sweetest and most flavorful of the year, who knew, with an incredible abundance of red, rose, white, yellow and russet varieties. These potato bites will be a crowd favorite in no time, plus they are just as good right out of the oven or chilled making them great for entertaining over this long weekend.

In late May summer squash production crosses the border from Mexico and into the US. Depending on the weather there can be production overlaps resulting in an overabundant supply and great values.  Shorter supply lines also mean fresher product and we come into a period where both the quality and the price of summer squash improves. A great way to use the abundant summer squash is in this standout pasta salad. Toasted pine nuts and briny kalamata olives make this dish more than memorable and a perfect dish for this Memorial Day weekend.

What’s true of summer squash is doubly true for corn. And once you try this honey-chipotle grilled corn you’ll never go back to plain corn-on-the-cob. Believe it!

Like summer vegetables, melons make the transition to domestic production right around Memorial Day. With this transition, common melons like watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe are in full abundance. Of course a melon dish is in demand for the weekend but don’t stop there, be sure to try this fresh watermelon-lemonade. Crisp and clean, with just the right mix of sweet-to-tart it’s absolutely perfect for cooling.

Berries are the best fruit value by far this time of year. By late May US production in strawberries and blueberries are in full swing; raspberry production increases significantly going into June; and even blackberry supplies are strong. Plus, the weather conditions are ideal, so they’ll taste spectacular. We tried, but we couldn’t narrow our berry recipe down to just one. So first you have a no-cook Vanilla Yogurt Berry Trifle that is perfectly refreshing and loaded with flavor. Not to mention quite festive for the holiday.

And here you have a crisp Berry Crumble thats easy to follow and even tastier than it looks. Served with a side of vanilla ice cream, its almost perfect. 

By this weekend you will probably see a full complement of stone fruit: peaches, plums, apricots, cherries and nectarines. Look for local availability (particularly in peaches) and choose your fruit carefully. You are accustom to seeing peaches used in dessert, but what about an adult popsicle . . . . didn’t think so. These boozy peach popsicles are perfect for parties and will go over exceptionally well with your friends. 

Enjoy These Great Memorial Day Recipes

Last yet obviously not least treat your friends to some Papa Ben’s Kitchen Mandelbroyt this Memorial Day Weekend. We recommend our Original Family Recipe for the occasion as it’s loaded with raisins, natural maraschino cherries, pecans, coconut and almonds – all the right flavors for this time of year.

We are welcoming the longer days here at Papa Ben’s. This time of year means so much for our family, including more time outside, more activities, healthier eating and more refreshing meals. And every day it seems there are new fruits and veggies to try that were mostly absent during the long cold winter and wet spring. Memorial Day is an important holiday to me for many reasons, and one is that it marks a remarkable seasonal change. 

In 2004 Michael Gerber, husband of Papa Ben’s Kitchen President Gail Lesser-Gerber, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. This diagnosis did not just effect Michael it effected the entire family. Multiple Sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling, disease of the central nervous system that interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Millions of people are affected by MS and the challenges of living with its unpredictable symptoms, which range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS.

This weekend, on Sunday April 6th, our family will be participating in one of the most important events of our year; the National MS Walk of Greater Los Angeles. Our team, The JiggyWiggits was formed back in 2007 and today we can proudly say we are one of the largest Friends and Family teams in the country (raising over $200,000 to date). Won’t you walk with us or consider donating to this cause very close to our hearts?

Why do we walk? We walk to PARTICIPATE, MAKE A DIFFERENCE and LIVE A LIFE THAT MATTERS. In the words of Michael Gerber himself “We want to PARTICIPATE in the events that raise money and awareness for this disease. We want to MAKE A DIFFERENCE is the lives of the millions of people that are affected by this disease. And we want to LIVE A LIFE THAT MATTERS by helping to create change in this world.” Within seconds of meeting Michael you will be moved to make a difference. His perseverance, positivity, love and faith radiates. We’d like to welcome you to learn more about this inspiring man at his moving, insightful and quite humorous blog titled “Perspective is Everything”.

Now that you see why the Walk MS 2014 is so near and dear to our hearts we ask you to help us spread the word. Share with your friends and join us for the MS WALK 2014 on April 6th at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. If you can’t join us please find a WALK in a city near you or simply make a difference one Mandelbroyt at a time. Just enter code NMSS all year round at checkout and 30% of your proceeds will do directly to the Multiple Sclerosis Society when you buy our cookies from the Papa Ben’s Kitchen website.