Starfruit

Take a long walk in any of our area’s mid- to late-20th-century neighborhoods and chances are you’ll find a star fruit tree. Starfruit, or carambola, is an exotic tropical fruit native to Southeast Asia with a unique tart flavor. When a sweeter variety was cultivated by a Florida resident named Arkin in the 1970s, this unusual fruit gained popularity and popped up in yards across southern Florida. Starfruit are 100% edible, with a thin, waxy skin and firm flesh. They’re sweetest when left to ripen on the tree until the skin has turned yellow with a hint of green. Their unique sweet and sour flavor makes them versatile to prepare—juiced, pickled, grilled, and dried or added into salads, salsas, and relishes.

IN SEASON

JULY, AUGUST & SEPTEMBER

AVOCADOS
BANANAS
BARBADOS CHERRY
BASIL
COCONUT
EGGPLANT
GUAVAS
HOT PEPPERS
LIMES
LONGANS
LYCHEES
MALABAR SPINACH
MANGOS
MUSCADINE GRAPES
OKRA
PASSION FRUIT
PEANUT
PINEAPPLE
SEMINOLE PUMPKIN
SOUTHERN PEAS
STARFRUIT
SUGAR APPLES
SURINAM CHERRY
YARD-LONG BEANS