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Jul 17, 2023

Tasty Latin American Vegetables and Fruit to Try

How to cook with these versatile produce picks The produce of Central and South

How to cook with these versatile produce picks

The produce of Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean can be as varied as the cultures and people of these regions, and including Latin American produce in your repertoire helps ensure that you’re getting a variety of vitamins and minerals—and flavors. "If we eat the same foods every day, we eat the same nutrients every day," says Sandra Arévalo, RDN, director of community and patient education at Montefiore Nyack Hospital in New York.

Many grocery stores carry an assortment of Latin American produce. You may also find it in unexpected places. "If you don't have a Latin bodega nearby, try an Asian market," says Lourdes Castro Mortillaro, RDN, director of the NYU Food Lab in New York City. Many of the same fruits and vegetables are used in both cuisines. Take a look at the chart below and see if it inspires you to add a little variety to your diet.

Editor's Note: A version of this article also appeared in the November 2021 issue of Consumer Reports On Health.

Rachel Meltzer Warren

Rachel Meltzer Warren, MS, RD, is a freelance writer based in the New York area who contributes to Consumer Reports on food and nutrition topics.