If you have ever visited the Hamlin Stephenson Farmers’ Market on a Saturday morning, you know first-hand how popular local produce is. The stalls are always bustling with customers searching for fresh local eggs, ripe fruits and vegetables, and aromatic herbs.

Many of the fruits we take for granted in the Caribbean are packed full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Here are five nutritional powerhouses to keep an eye out for on your next trip to the Farmers’ Market or to consider growing in your yard.

CHERRIES

Barbados Cherry (Malpighia emarginata) and Surinam Cherry (Eugenia uniflora) are two common fruit trees with delicious red fruits. While Surinam Cherries can be an acquired taste, the fruits are high in vitamin C and a good source of the antioxidant beta-carotene. Barbados Cherries are also an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese, which is important for bone health.

SWEET SOP

Sweet Sop (Annona squamosa) owes its common name to the sugary, creamy flesh of its fruits which have a unique appearance. You will know the fruit is ripe when it gets soft, and the individual segments start to pull apart. Another local fruit high in vitamin C and manganese, Sweet Sop is a good source of thiamine and vitamin B6.

GUAVA

Guava (Psidium guajava) is another star source of vitamin C, packing 275% of your daily value per 100 grams of fruit. This sweet little fruit is also a good source of folate and potassium. Oil made from the seeds contains beta carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C and minerals such as copper, zinc and selenium.

STARFRUIT

This fruit’s name derives from its unique shape: when sliced, the deep ridges form the shape of a star. Starfruit (Averrhoa carambola) is high in vitamin C and a source of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5). Starfruit is also relatively low in sugar, at 4 grams per 100 grams of fruit.

AVOCADO

Known locally as ‘pears’, avocados (Persea Americana) are widely known for their high levels of healthy fats, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E and potassium. Avocado seed oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and lutein, an antioxidant that supports eye health.