Nothing beats a crisp summer salad or a piece of sweet fruit during the hot summer months. Look no further than the streets of the North End to supply fresh Italian produce to satisfy those cravings. An abundance of fruits and vegetables grow throughout Italy year round and we are lucky enough to have some of the best local markets around to supply us with them.

By Alexandra Cioper

Porcini mushrooms are a passion in Italy and can be found in stores all around the U.S. They grow in the woods of Italy and are used by chefs all over the world. Porcinis have a meat-like texture and the nutty flavor lends itself to many Italian dishes.

Italy grows a vast variety of onions that they are known for. The Bianca Di Maggio Cipollini Sweet Onion, also known as Giugnese, is an Italian flat cipollini type with solid white flesh and a sweet, mild flavor. The Borettana Cipollini Sweet Onion is a small, flat yellow onion shaped like a button. They are sought after for their distinct sweet taste. Cipollini onions, an old Italian variety, are a beautiful, bright red color and are considered the gourmet onions of Italy.

Italian summer dishes that can be made with these fresh veggies are Insalata Caprese (mozzarella, tomatoes and basil), Asparagi al Prosciutto (asparagus with prosciutto), stuffed artichokes or zucchini and classic vegetable lasagna.

Italian fruits found in the North End also offer a refreshing summertime treat. Admired Italian fruits are those that are grown on trees, such as cherries, pears, figs, quince (similar to an apple and pear), lemons
and oranges.

In the Sorrentina peninsula in picturesque Southern Italy, lemon trees are the specialty. Sorrento lemons are as big as grapefruits and are known for their scent and sweet and juicy pulp, which contains few seeds. Sorrento lemons are highly valued for their use in Italian cuisine and limoncello liqueur.

Sicilian oranges are the most famous in the world. Along with eating the orange as a snack, they can be squeezed to make juice and are even used as a remedy to prevent sickness. They are so rich in vitamin C that Italian doctors recommend eating three a day to avoid the flu.

Italian fruits are perfect to snack on, but can also make for a great dessert. For example, Torta di Fichi e Pesche (fig and peach cake) and Macedonia di Frutta (fruit cocktail). Alba Produce, located on Parmenter Street, is a local market that sells produce year round, but it is during the summer months that the store is particularly appealing. The vibrant color of the fruits and vegetables are visible in the oversized windows and draws customers into the small but welcoming store. The owner of Alba Produce is Albie Alba, but he should more appropriately be called the “Produce Man”. Alba gets all of his produce fresh every morning from Chelsea, MA. Throughout the summer he carries traditional Italian fruits and vegetables along with an assortment of other produce that is used in classic Italian cooking.

Alba says the biggest trend he sees for the summer months is fava beans. Most people eat the beans raw, leaving them in a bowl on the table to pick at and enjoy with some cheese and a glass of wine. Fava beans can also be tossed on top of a salad or sautéed and mixed with a cooked dish. Also stocked on his shelves are vine tomatoes, artichokes, zucchini, fresh peas, asparagus, mushrooms and onions.

Going Bananas on Salem Street knows that the North End goes crazy for fresh fruit in the summer. They are another local store that has a large selection of fresh produce for North Enders and tourists to enjoy. In addition to the whole produce stocked in the shelves, the store also makes fresh fruit cups everyday. Owner Frank Scire says that the store has many regulars that come in to grab a fresh and healthy lunch. Going Bananas also offers many Italian salad blends like arugula, mesclun and mozzarella salad that come conveniently packaged for a meal to go. They also take pride in their “infamous smoothies” as a cool summertime fruit treat. They have flavors like strawberry banana, pineapple banana, mango and melon and pina colada.

Down the street from the North End is Haymarket Square, an open-air produce market. Haymarket is not only about shopping for produce; going there is an event. People from all over the area come to the market located on the corner of North and Blackstone St. to barter and walk away with twice the amount of food for half the price than they would at a regular grocery store. Beware though; Haymarket is not for the meek — vendors will yell and the crowd of people will push.

If you are up to the challenge, Haymarket is open during the day every Friday and Saturday. They sell every fruit and vegetable imaginable at prices that are unimaginable. This is one of the only places to purchase a handful of tomatoes for one dollar or a carton of strawberries for the same price. With the economy on a downturn, Haymarket is the place to go to get the most bang for your buck, literally one dollar!

All three of these locations provide the perfect ingredients to make a fruit salad to have at the weekend barbeque or bruschetta and caponata for date night.