Rainbow-Fruit Stand

Gifts of Nature

Living in Los Angeles comes with its perks, and one of those perks is the Rainbow Fruit Stands found all across town. These stands are hard to miss due to their colorful, rainbow-like parasols, which represent the diverse and beautiful fruits they carry.

After watching a competitive soccer game in Cheviot Hills, our friends took us to one of these rainbow-fruit stands to enjoy some of the juicy, delicious, and fresh options that are out there—even if you are a celiac like me! A true bite of nature’s candy!

The owners of these stands are very kind and very hygienic in the sense that they use clean gloves when they cut and chop the fruit into smaller pieces. On their cart they only seem to carry fresh fruit and Tajín – a Mexican spice blend of chili peppers, lime, and salt.

The fruits are put on display so you can easily point out which ones you’d like. You can choose from a rainbow of possibilities – including pineapple, papaya, orange, jicama, coconut, strawberries, grapes, cucumber, watermelon, and mango. A fruit cup costs approximately $7–$8, while a tray costs $15–$16. After freshly cutting the fruit in front of you, they’ll ask if you’d like a splash of lime and a generous amount of Tajín on top. If you have celiac disease, you should double-check if that it’s safe to eat, though it usually is. Personally, I find that Tajín covers up the natural sweetness of the fruit a bit much, but I will always add a splash of lime on it. The lime truly brings the flavor of the fruit to the surface and adds extra freshness by bringing the entire fruit cup together as a whole. In my eyes, it’s the perfect combination of flavors to consume on a hot summer day!

Fruit tray filled with vibrant colors - gifts of nature.

Fruta on Santa Monica beach with Tajín.