From juicy seasonal fruits to clever dessert hacks and globally inspired meals, Trader Joe’s crew members have revealed the most buzzed-about summer products making their way to shelves. Whether you’re stocking up for BBQ season or refreshing your snack game, here are 14 exciting picks that employees say are totally worth the hype.
1. Yellow Watermelon $5.99 each/1 Each
This golden-fleshed watermelon isn’t just a summer eye-catcher—it’s sweeter and less acidic than the red variety, with a honeyed flavor that makes it perfect for fruit salads or frozen treats.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 45 per cup
- Fat 0g
- Carbs 12g
- Sodium 2mg
- Dietary Fiber 1g
- Sugar 9g
- Protein 1g
Ingredients
Yellow watermelon.
Preparation Instructions
Slice, cube, or ball it and chill before serving. Perfect in smoothies, salsas, or skewers.
2. Crumbled Gorgonzola Sheep-Cow Blend $3.49/4 oz
This rich, tangy cheese blend marries the bite of traditional Gorgonzola with the creamy depth of sheep’s milk. It’s pre-crumbled and ready to elevate salads or burgers.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 100
- Fat 8g
- Carbs 1g
- Sodium 250mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 0g
- Protein 6g
Ingredients
Pasteurized cow’s milk, pasteurized sheep’s milk, salt, rennet, cheese cultures, penicillium roqueforti.
Preparation Instructions
Sprinkle over mixed greens, melt into a risotto, or top grilled steak.
3. Espresso Soda $1.49/8.45 fl oz
Combining cold brew espresso and fizzy seltzer, this lightly sweetened sparkling coffee drink is surprisingly refreshing with a subtle jolt of caffeine.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 35
- Fat 0g
- Carbs 8g
- Sodium 10mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 7g
- Protein 0g
Ingredients
Carbonated water, espresso coffee, cane sugar, natural flavors.
Preparation Instructions
Serve chilled straight from the can or over ice with a citrus peel.
4. Korean-Style Bibim-Guksu $4.99/9.81 oz
This cold noodle dish features thin wheat noodles in a sweet-and-spicy gochujang-based sauce, inspired by Korea’s beloved summer comfort food.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 250
- Fat 6g
- Carbs 44g
- Sodium 920mg
- Dietary Fiber 3g
- Sugar 13g
- Protein 5g
Ingredients
- Salad (cooked somen noodles [water, somen noodles {wheat flour, salt}, canola oil, extra virgin olive oil], napa cabbage, cucumber, carrots, Korean style kimchi [napa cabbage, green onions, wakame seaweed, chili pepper, sea salt, sesame seeds, garlic, ginger], green onion, sesame seeds); gochujang dressing (water, cane sugar, red pepper paste [water, tapioca syrup, brown rice, ground red pepper, salt, garlic, onion], onion puree, soy sauce [water, soybeans, wheat, salt], pear puree, apple puree, sesame oil, rice vinegar, chopped garlic, distilled vinegar, honey, cornstarch, canola oil, salt, sesame seeds, red chili pepper, paprika oleoresin [color]).
- Contains soy, sesame, wheat.
Preparation Instructions
Chill and mix well before eating. Add cucumber slices or a soft-boiled egg for extra flair.
5. Hard Top Chocolate Shell Coating $3.29/6.17 oz
Pour this magical chocolate sauce over ice cream, and it hardens on contact to form a crisp shell. It’s dairy-free and perfect for DIY sundaes.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 210
- Fat 17g
- Carbs 15g
- Sodium 20mg
- Dietary Fiber 1g
- Sugar 13g
- Protein 1g
Ingredients
- Coconut oil, sugar, cocoa powder processed with alkali, dark chocolate (sugar, cocoa mass, cocoa butter, canola lecithin, natural flavor), skim milk powder, hazelnuts, sunflower lecithin, salt.
- Contains milk, hazelnut.
- May contain soy.
Preparation Instructions
Shake well. Drizzle over cold desserts and wait 20 seconds for it to harden.
6. Pretzel Buns $2.99/12 oz
Soft inside with a classic brown pretzel crust, these sandwich-ready buns are ideal for burgers, brats, or BBQ chicken.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 250
- Fat 5g
- Carbs 43g
- Sodium 270mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 4g
- Protein 7g
Ingredients
- Enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, vegetable oil (canola oil and/or sunflower oil), sugar, yeast, contains 2% or less of cultured wheat flour, salt, distilled white vinegar, malted barley flour, ascorbic acid (dough conditioner), enzymes, sodium hydroxide (processing aid).
- Contains wheat.
Preparation Instructions
Warm in the oven or slice and toast. Great with sharp cheddar and mustard.
7. Glow Anywhere Sun Care Set $14.99/1 Each
This TSA-friendly set includes sunscreen, after-sun gel, and tinted SPF balm. Infused with skin-loving ingredients, it’s a beach bag must-have.
Key Features
- SPF 30 protection
- Aloe-based after-sun gel
- Tinted balm with shimmer
- Travel-size tubes
Materials
- Shimmer Oil Sunscreen
Active ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 7.5%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 7%.
Inactive ingredients: Carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, isododecane, butyloctyl salicylate, fragrance, ethylhexyl methoxycrylene, phenoxyethanol, mica, calcium sodium borosilicate, diethylhexyl 2,6-naphthalate, iron oxides, titanium dioxide, hydrogenated poly(C6-20 olefin), ethylhexylglycerin, HDI/trimethylol hexyllactone crosspolymer, tocopherol, maleated soybean oil glyceryl/octyldodecanol esters, pongamia glabra seed oil, tocopheryl acetate, oenocarpus bataua fruit oil. - Shimmer Glow Stick Sunscreen
Active ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 10%.
Inactive ingredients: C12-15 alkyl benzoate, octyldodecanol, dicaprylyl carbonate, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, isododecane, polyester-8, isohexadecane, dibutyl ethylhexanoyl glutamide, dibutyl lauroyl glutamide, limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil, pentaclethra macroloba seed oil, diethylhexyl syringylidenemalonate, tocopherol, calophyllum inophyllum seed oil, calendula officinalis flower extract, caprylic/capric triglyceride, synthetic fluorphlogopite, mica, iron oxides, titanium dioxide, mauritia flexuosa fruit oil. - After Sun Body Serum
Ingredients: Water, dicaprylyl carbonate, glycerin, niacinamide, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP copolymer, propanediol, C13-15 alkane, phenoxyethanol, fragrance, potassium sorbate, ethylhexylglycerin, caprylic/capric triglyceride, gluconolactone, trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate, sodium benzoate, pentylene glycol, phytosterols, ceramide NP, aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder, sodium stearoyl glutamate, caprylyl glycol, glyceryl caprylate, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, ceramide AP, sodium hyaluronate, calcium gluconate, sodium acetylated hyaluronate, sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer, hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate.
Use Instructions
Apply 15 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply every 2 hours. Store in a cool place.
8. Organic Uncured Grass-Fed Beef Hot Dogs $5.99/10 oz
These no-nitrate, no-preservative hot dogs are made with 100% grass-fed beef, delivering a clean, juicy bite for your grill lineup.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 110
- Fat 10g
- Carbs <1g
- Sodium 300mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 0g
- Protein 6g
Ingredients
- Organic beef, water, contains 2% or less of sea salt, organic black pepper, organic ginger, organic nutmeg, organic red pepper flakes, organic paprika, organic garlic powder, organic onion powder, organic coriander extract, organic vinegar powder, celery powder, organic minced onion, organic garlic puree.
Preparation Instructions
Grill or pan-sear until browned and heated through. Serve on potato or pretzel buns.
9. Root Beer Float Pieces $3.79/7 oz
These candy bites are chewy and fizzy with root beer and vanilla cream layers—basically, your childhood soda fountain trip in snack form.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 140
- Fat 6g
- Carbs 20g
- Sodium 55mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 13g
- Protein <1g
Ingredients
- Vanilla sandwich cookies with popping candy (enriched wheat flour [wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid], icing sugar, cane sugar, canola oil, palm oil, popping candy [cane sugar, lactose, corn syrup solids, cocoa butter, powdered sugar, carbon dioxide], invert sugar syrup, sea salt, natural flavors, baking soda, soy lecithin [emulsifier], vanilla bean specks); white confectionery coating (sugar, palm kernel oil, nonfat milk powder, whole milk powder, whey powder, palm oil, soy lecithin [emulsifier], natural vanilla flavor); dark confectionery coating (sugar, palm kernel oil, palm oil, cocoa powder, cocoa powder processed with alkali, whey powder, soy lecithin [emulsifier], natural vanilla flavor); natural flavor.
- Contains milk, soy, wheat. May contain egg, peanut, almond, cashew, coconut, pecan.
Preparation Instructions
Ready to eat. Store in a cool, dry place.
10. Pluot $3.49/lb
A hybrid of plum and apricot, the pluot is ultra-juicy, deeply sweet, and ideal for snacking, grilling, or slicing over yogurt.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 70 per medium fruit
- Fat 0g
- Carbs 18g
- Sodium 0mg
- Dietary Fiber 2g
- Sugar 15g
- Protein 1g
Ingredients
Pluot/plum-apricot hybrid.
Preparation Instructions
Wash and slice. Best served chilled or roasted with honey and mint.
11. Potato Buns $3.49/15 oz
Light, fluffy, and slightly sweet, these buns are made with potato flour for a tender texture. Ideal for pulled pork or breakfast sandwiches.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 130
- Fat 1.5g
- Carbs 26g
- Sodium 220mg
- Dietary Fiber <1g
- Sugar 4g
- Protein 5g
Ingredients
- Unbleached enriched flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, sugar, corn oil, potato flour, yeast, salt, wheat gluten, soy lecithin (emulsifier), paprika (color), cultured wheat flour (to preserve), enzymes, ascorbic acid (dough conditioner).
- Contains soy, wheat.
Preparation Instructions
Toast for better structure. Store in a cool, dry place or freeze.
12. Black Sesame Mochi Ice Cream $4.49/9 oz
Sweet and nutty black sesame ice cream is wrapped in pillowy mochi dough. It’s chewy, creamy, and unlike anything else in the freezer.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 100
- Fat 3.5g
- Carbs 16g
- Sodium 25mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 10g
- Protein 1g
Ingredients
Black sesame paste, cream, sugar, rice flour, tapioca starch, natural flavors.
Preparation Instructions
Let sit 1–2 minutes at room temp before eating for best texture.
13. Strawberry Mini Sheet Cake $5.99/18 oz
This adorable sheet cake packs big flavor moist vanilla sponge layered with real strawberry filling and topped with pink buttercream.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 320
- Fat 16g
- Carbs 43g
- Sodium 220mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 35g
- Protein 2g
Ingredients
- Cake (cane sugar, enriched wheat flour [wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid], water, strawberry preserves [organic strawberries, organic cane sugar, apple pectin, ascorbic acid {to preserve}, citric acid {acidifier}], canola oil, eggs, buttermilk [cultured pasteurized milk, nonfat milk powder, salt], baking soda, natural flavor, sea salt); frosting (powdered sugar [sugar, cornstarch], unsalted butter [cream [milk], natural flavor], cream cheese [pasteurized cultured milk and cream, salt, guar gum, carob bean gum], strawberry puree [strawberries, cane sugar, fruit pectin, ascorbic acid {to maintain color}], freeze dried strawberry,
Preparation Instructions
Serve chilled or room temperature. Pairs well with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
14. Strawberry and Watermelon Marshmallows $2.49/5 oz
These pastel-colored, fruit-flavored marshmallows are perfect for s’mores, snacking, or tossing in summer party punch.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 90
- Fat 0g
- Carbs 22g
- Sodium 10mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 17g
- Protein 1g
Ingredients
Sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, natural flavors, beet juice/color, watermelon extract.
Preparation Instructions
Ready to eat. Roast over a campfire or chop into cereal treats.
Final Thoughts
Trader Joe’s summer lineup is full of crowd-pleasers—from vibrant fruits and creative desserts to international dishes and seasonal skincare. If you’re headed in soon, these 14 employee-loved items deserve a top spot in your cart.
