There are a number of times during the year, such as the second day of Rosh Hashanah (and, for some, the 15th of Shevat), when it is customary to eat a fruit that just came into season, which necessitates the celebratory blessing of shehecheyanu. Today, with our global market, as well as advancements in technology and agricultural techniques, many fruits are now available year-round. In light of this, can one make the shehecheyanu blessing on such a fruit?

Following are some basic guidelines regarding the blessing of shehecheyanu.

Seeing a New Fruit

According to Jewish law, one should recite the blessing shehecheyanu upon seeing a seasonal fruit for the first time in the season. If, however, one does not take pleasure in just seeing the new fruit, he or she does not recite the blessing until eating it.

In order not to make a distinction between those who take pleasure in seeing the new fruit and those who do not, the custom is to wait to make the blessing shehecheyanu when the fruit is eaten.1

When to Say the Blessing?

According to most, one first recites the shehecheyanu and then the blessing on the produce (ha’etz or ha’adamah).2 However, some, especially Sephardic communities,3 have the custom to recite the blessings in the reverse order.4

Fruits Available Year-Round

In general, one does not recite a shehecheyanu blessing on fruits that are available in the local market year-round, even if they are technically seasonal but are found year-round due to refrigeration, newer growing techniques or simply because they are shipped from other locales.5 So, seemingly, most produce in local supermarkets today wouldn’t qualify for the blessing.6

If, however, the new seasonal produce is noticeably distinct in taste and appearance from the older produce that is available year-round, the blessing shehecheyanu should be recited over it.7 Additionally, if the fruit can be obtained year-round from a specialty store, but is only widely available during certain seasons, the blessing can be recited over it when it comes into season.8

Dried or Cooked Fruits

One only recites the blessing over new seasonal produce. As such, one does not make the blessing over the produce if it is cooked, fried, pickled or dried, since it is not evident that it is from a new season. (This applies even if there is a date testifying that it is new.9)10

If, in the current season, one only ate these fruits in their cooked or dried form, he or she may recite a shehecheyanu when eating a fresh specimen for the first time.11

Two Subspecies

The blessing is recited for each type of new fruit, even if the fruits are within the same species. For example, two fruits that have the same taste but are different colors are considered two types of fruit.12 Some, however, hold that they need to have different tastes.13

Hybrid Fruits

There is a disagreement as to whether one makes a shehecheyanu on hybrid fruits. For more on that, see Can I Thank G‑d for a Hybrid Fruit?

Vegetables

Most vegetables are available year-round, and one therefore would not recite a shehecheyanu on them.14 However, this should not be confused with seasonal fruits that grow from the ground (such as certain berries and melons), upon which the blessing of ha’adamah is recited. On such fruits, as long as they follow the criteria outlined above, one would indeed recite shehecheyanu.15