Fresh fruits and vegetables are found on St. John throughout the year in grocery stores. Below are some of the local fruits found in season on St. John.
Starfruit (AKA carambola) has a slightly waxy skin and crunchy, firm flesh that is entirely edible. The texture of starfruit is compared to that of grapes. Read more about starfruit here.
Apple Guava is the most popular guava species. Learn more about all the different varieties of guava here.
Guavaberry (AKA rumberry) trees grow in a variety of shapes and sizes. Guavaberry is not at all related to guava. Guavaberries are local stone fruits that are roughly half the size of cherries with a notable sweetness. Learn more here.
Mango trees can be found on St. John, with hundreds of varieties in the Caribbean alone. Mangoes are native to southeast Asia and the national fruit of India and Pakistan.
Dragon Fruit (AKA Pitaya) is a low-calorie fruit that contains less sugar and fewer carbs than many other tropical fruits. Scoop out the flesh with a spoon, slice, and enjoy! More about dragon fruits here.
Breadfruit, like potatoes, can be baked in its skin, or it can be peeled, cut up, and boiled. Ripe breadfruit can be made into a sweetened, baked pudding.
Papaya (AKA pawpaw) plants grow in three sexes: male, female, and hermaphrodite. The male produces only pollen, never fruit. The female produces small, inedible fruits unless pollinated. The hermaphrodite can self-pollinate since its flowers contain both male stamens and female ovaries. Learn more about papayas here.
Sweetsop (AKA custard apple, sugar apple) is high in energy, an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese, a good source of thiamine and vitamin B6, and provides vitamin B2, B3 B5, B9, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium in fair quantities.
Soursop (AKA graviola, guyabano, and in Latin America, guanábana) has an aroma similar to pineapple, the flavor of the fruit has been described as a combination of strawberries and apple with a sour citrus flavor and a thick creamy texture reminiscent of banana.
Genip (AKA Spanish lime, ackee, chenet, talpa jocote, mamón, limoncillo, skinip, kinnip, huaya, or mamoncillo) are sweet, pitted fruits rich in iron and phosphorus. Learn more about genips here.
These are just a few of the amazing local fruits visitors to the US Virgin Islands will find on their vacation. Learn more about tropical fruits of the Caribbean here.