What To Do With Your Fruit After The Harvest?

So you've put in the time and effort, and you're finally ready to sit down and reap the rewards of your fruit garden but... what exactly are you supposed to do with this bountiful harvest? Well, the simple answer is to chow down and eat it fresh, but there are other options too! There are a ton of different things you can do with your fruit once you've harvested it, and most of them don't take very long or require too much effort to enjoy. Here's just a look at some of the things you can do with your freshly picked fruit, other than eat it right away that is.

Fresh strawberry jam. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Jellies, jams, and preserves – If you've ever shopped for fruit preserves you've probably seen the outrageous prices on processed, store bought jams and jellies full of nasty preservatives and artificial additives that are most decidedly not good for you. Instead, with just a little research and a few supplies you can turn your fresh fruits into jams, jellies, and preserves that you can enjoy right away - or later on down the road! Just be sure to properly label and date your jars (or whichever storage container you choose) so you know what you're coming back to later.

A more immediate solution to your delicious fruit usage needs is to turn them into something you can eat and enjoy right away! Fruit is a core part of many different recipes and the fresher the fruit the better. Take the time to get recipes for your favorite pies or cobblers and get baking! Got extra apples? Turn them into tasty fresh cider or a delicious batch of apple sauce. You can even try your hand at natural fermentation and make some hard cider. The only limits you'll run into are your imagination and your appetite.

Last and definitely not least, you can give your fresh fruit to your friends and family. Fruit makes great gifts! Pick and choose from your harvest and personalize each gift basket with its recipient's favorite fruity snacks. Or do a mix of all three choices and deliver a set of jams or a fresh baked pie or cobbler to your neighbors. What good is having all these tasty treats if you can't share and enjoy them with those closest to you?

When it comes to the things you can do with tasty, delicious fresh fruit the possibilities are nearly endless but I'm sure you can come up with something. You worked hard all season, now's the time to kick back, relax, and enjoy all the tasty fruits that you've worked for.