Blog

By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

We’ve all long known the importance of getting lots of fruits into our diets. Eating fruits regularly is a great way to increase the number of plants that we are incorporating into our diets, they are a delicious and sweet snack that is free of added sugars and are chock full of fiber and other essential nutrients.

While there are so many different fruits out there, the following are ones that are recommended by dieticians, as they pack the greatest punch when it comes to nutrition! And we’ll highlight what fruits are grown in Arizona!

1. Blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries – These are all a great source of fiber, and multiple vitamins, and are lower in sugar! (Arizona’s really good at growing blackberries and raspberries!)
2. Apples – A great source of soluble and insoluble fiber! (We have several commercial and u-pick apple orchards in Arizona. We’re known for a naturally sweet and crisp apple with several varieties grown here.)
3. Oranges – Chock full of vitamin C! (One of Arizona’s “5 C’s” is citrus and while we don’t grow as many oranges as in the past, we do still raise a wonderfully sweet and juicy orange.)
4. Prunes – High in fiber and vitamin K!
5. Bananas – A great source of potassium and fiber!
6. Tomatoes – Full of vitamin A, and lycopene, a powerful antioxidant! (Commercially as well and small farm growers for the farmers’ markets throughout Arizona)
7. Watermelon – Very hydrating due to its high-water content and potassium content! (Now this is where we shine. Our watermelon farmers know the best varieties to grow in Arizona and how to grow them crisp and sweet)
8. Avocados – Full of vitamins and healthy fats! (California does this fruit best but Arizonans know how to make the best guacamole.)

If you don’t eat fruit regularly already, consider adding more of them to your diet! They are a healthy, sweet way to incorporate more vitamins, minerals, and nutrients! So, go ahead and make yourself a fruit salad, or just choose one and eat it fresh! To see what kinds of fruits are grown locally here in Arizona, check out the Fill Your Plate website!