Recipes that Showcase Trendy Flavors

Tangy Citrus, Sweet Berry and Cool Mint (ARA) - Fruit stands, farmers markets and grocery store produce departments are bursting with fresh flavors.

Tangy Citrus, Sweet Berry and Cool Mint (ARA) - Fruit stands, farmers markets and grocery store produce departments are bursting with fresh flavors. Hot, thirsty days call for refreshing beverages and lighter recipes showcasing ingredients at their seasonal peaks.

This year, the hottest food trends focus on citrus fruits and berry flavors for drinks and dishes ranging from iced tea to grilling marinades and desserts. For more adventurous diners, professional chefs and culinary magazines are using fresh mint in surprising ways, indicating an emerging trend.

"One of the best things about summer is that the entire country is at the height of growing season,"
said Barr Hogen, Odwalla creative chef and director of new product development. "That means that whether you live in Colorado or California, the freshest, most flavorful produce is close at hand."


Hogen offers the following tips for using fresh produce to achieve the hottest summer flavors:

Citrus - Nothing says summer quite like freshly squeezed lemonade. This summer, lemonade with a twist is all the rage. Strawberry lemonade and even limeade are making appearances in trendy restaurants, food magazines and premium pre-bottled juices such as Odwalla Quenchers. These invigorating beverages combine two of summer's hottest flavor trends - citrus and berry. Citrus flavors appear as part of summer's main course as well. Lemons and limes, especially when combined with pineapple and ginger, are making their way into healthy and flavorful marinades for shrimp and fish, as well as sauces for grilled pork.

Berry - Raspberry iced tea offers a festive accent for garden lunches, while trendy rosé wines, with crisp undertones of cherry and strawberry, make an excellent companion to summer party foods. The addition of cherries to cold salads such as turkey and wild rice or chicken and cashews updates luncheon favorites with a taste of sunshine.

Mint - On a hot day, the cool taste of mint can be a refreshing and unexpected surprise, and according to Hogen, mint is emerging as a summer flavor trend. Peppermint tea, traditionally served hot, takes on a new dimension when served chilled over ice and garnished with a lemon wedge. On the table, mint is perhaps best known as an accompaniment to lamb, and while this is still a popular preparation, the herb has greater diversity and range. Rubbing fresh fish with mint and other seasonings before grilling adds depth without covering the delicate taste of salmon, halibut or trout.

Hogen recommends looking for seasonal flavors in products at grocery stores and asking local growers at farmers' markets what fruits, vegetables and herbs are at their peak in your region. Find her tasteful, healthy recipes, menu suggestions and tips for buying fresh produce by visiting www.Odwalla.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Editor's Note: For media inquiries or to coordinate an interview, please contact Holly Chambers at (404) 266-7571.
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