As we welcome the heart of summer in Colorado, July brings vibrant produce, peak freshness, and a few curveballs. From Palisade peaches to fresh green beans, this month offers restaurant operators and foodservice buyers in Denver a golden window to capitalize on seasonal menus, local sourcing, and strong flavor profiles.

Here's your localized guide to what’s in season in Colorado this July, and how national trends may impact what ends up on your plate.

Stone Fruits Take Center Stage

Colorado’s Western Slope is officially in peach season, and this year’s early picks are showing excellent quality.

Look for:

• Yellow peaches from Palisade
• Apricots and nectarines from the Western Slope
• Washington cherries continuing to arrive fresh through early July

Nationally, California and Georgia are also shipping strong volumes of peaches, helping balance availability despite some weather challenges in the Southeast.

Menu Tip: Highlight stone fruits on seasonal dessert menus or pair them with local cheese boards for a fresh, farm-to-table presentation.

Tomatoes & Cucumbers Are Abundant

July is a great time to stock up on heirloom, Roma, and slicer tomatoes, with high-quality fruit coming out of California and Mexico. Roma tomatoes are especially in demand, leading to premium pricing—but worth the value due to their consistent texture and deep flavor.

Cucumbers are also peaking, with solid availability from both Baja and southeastern states. Expect crisp quality ideal for salads, sandwiches, and pickling.

Denver Strategy: For restaurants or retailers in the Mile High City, highlight fresh tomatoes in Caprese salads or offer house-made pickles using locally available cukes.

Leafy Greens & Lettuce: Watch for Supply Tightness

While Salinas, CA remains the nation’s core region for leafy greens, recent cooler temperatures and wind have impacted yield and quality. Some growers are supplementing with product from other areas, and lighter weights are affecting volume.

That said, quality remains usable, with some flexibility. Romaine blends, hearts, and mixed greens are still a summer staple, but buyers should anticipate slightly firmer pricing and occasional outside labels.

Performance Tip: Plan ahead when ordering leafy greens. Be flexible on brand labels, and consider rotating in kale or arugula where romaine may be limited.

Avocados: Steady Now, but Shifting Ahead

Avocados remain plentiful leading up to the 4th of July, but supply shifts are coming. Mexico’s current season is tapering off, and the Flor Loca crop is expected mid-July. Peru is offering strong volumes (especially in larger fruit), while California’s season is slowing.

Grade 2s are common this month, so managing ripeness is key. Restaurants should communicate ripeness needs clearly with distributors to avoid overripe or underripe issues.

Menu Insight: With stable prices now, July is a good time to run avocado-focused features—just keep an eye on supply changes after mid-month.

Bananas, Pineapples, and Grapes: Be Flexible

Nationally, bananas and pineapples are experiencing lighter volume due to labor strikes in Panama and Central America, affecting imports. While quality remains solid, availability and sizing may be inconsistent.

Table grapes, especially green varieties, have been hit hard by early summer heat and storms in Mexico. Subbing red grapes is recommended where possible. As California’s season ramps up in July, this may balance out by month’s end.

Denver Buyers Note: Consider flexible sizing and variety substitutions when ordering bananas and pineapples. Educate staff on visual quality checks to maintain consistency.

What’s Local in Colorado This Month?

In addition to stone fruit, July marks the beginning of the Colorado sweet corn season often available at regional farmers markets and through select distributors.

Other local items coming into season:

• Green beans
• Zucchini and summer squash
• Beets and carrots
• Radishes and leafy herbs

Chef Tip: Source local when possible, menus with locally grown callouts continue to resonate with Denver diners seeking transparency and freshness.

FAQ’s

1. What’s in season in Colorado in July?

July is peak season for Colorado-grown peaches, apricots, sweet corn, green beans, summer squash, carrots, and herbs. You’ll also find excellent quality tomatoes, cucumbers, and berries from nearby states like California and Washington.

2. Where can I buy seasonal produce in Denver?

You can find fresh, in-season produce at local farmers markets (like Union Station or South Pearl Street), independent grocers, and through regional food distributors like Performance Foodservice Denver.

3. Why are some produce items more expensive this summer?

Labor strikes, weather conditions (like heavy rains and heatwaves), and regional supply chain issues are affecting availability of certain items like bananas, pineapples, and leafy greens. These factors can lead to escalated pricing in July.

4. How can restaurants in Denver take advantage of seasonal produce?

Incorporating fresh, local ingredients into summer specials or rotating menus can help drive sales, reduce food costs, and appeal to health-conscious diners. Seasonal dishes also promote sustainability and local agriculture.

5. What produce should I avoid in July due to limited supply?

While availability changes weekly, bananas, pineapples, broccoli, and large-sized limes may be in tighter supply this month. Flexibility with sizing or variety substitutions is key when ordering these items.