Long days of sunshine, warm evenings filled with fireflies, and farmers' markets bursting with fresh-picked foods. I can't wait for summer! And there's absolutely no reason we can't get at least five servings of wonderfully fresh and delicious fruits and vegetables during the summer growing season. Scientific evidence shows that we really can't overdo it on fresh produce, so why not set a goal of enjoying seven to nine servings of fruit and vegetables every day during the summer season? Your body (and taste buds!) will thank you. Here are my favorite summertime fruits and veggies. Enjoy!

Berries Strawberries come first, followed by cherries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. There's some type of fresh berry available all summer long in most areas of the country. Berries are good sources of fiber, potassium, manganese, magnesium, folate and vitamin C. Eight strawberries contain more vitamin C than one orange, and one cup of raspberries has 30 percent of your daily fiber needs. They contain more antioxidants than other types of food, helping protect against cancer and heart disease.

 Tomatoes Early New England colonists believed tomatoes were poisonous, but today they're one of our most popular foods. Tomatoes are an excellent source of lycopene, a phytochemical that helps reduce the risk of prostate cancer. They're another good source of vitamin C and are also high in potassium. Don't limit yourself to sliced tomatoes in salads or on sandwiches. Try adding cherry tomatoes to your shish kabob skewers, hollow out a tomato and stuff the shell with tuna salad, or use your blender for a quick and refreshing gazpacho loaded with tomatoes and other summertime veggies.