"Shehechianu" On Fruit - Part 2

Since most fruit and vegetables are found year-round in America, they cannot receive the special blessing of Shehechianu. Question to the Internet reader: Can you think of any produce that would fit the criteria (i.e., seasonal) for this blessing?

It is doubtful whether Shehechianu can be made over carobs. While it's true that they are seasonal and generally not found in the market other than during their season, their 'newness' is not so noticeable. The Poskim add that since it is abnormal to eat them--they are considered mainly animal food--and there is not enough joy in eating them, it is hard to justify making a Shehechianu, as was noted concerning many vegetables [Rav Eliashiv, Rav Fisher].

There are varied opinions concerning making Shehechianu on grafted fruit. Some say a blessing is inappropriate since it is a product of an action that flouted G-d's will [see Biur Halacha 225:1 and Yabiya Omer, Volume 5, 29]. According to this opinion, the custom is not to say Shehechianu over citrus fruit, including oranges [Harav Mordechai Eliyahu].

There are those, however, who conclude that a blessing is in order [see Shonei Holachos, citing aforementioned Biur Halacha].

And there are those who say not to make the blessing because of doubt [Caf HaChaim]; to alleviate this problem, one could bring a new fruit, which definitely requires Shehechianu to cover the doubtful fruit [Igros Moshe Volume 2, 58; Minchos Yitzchok Volume 3, 25].

Finally, there are those who rule that while one should not recite Shehechianu on the fruit of the grafted tree itself, the subsequently produced fruit could receive this blessing [Rav Eliayashiv; Ohr L'Tzion Chapter 14, 45].

Having said all this, the reality in our days is that grafting of fruit trees does not present a real problem concerning Shehechianu, since most available fruits--including nectarines--are not the result of the forbidden type of grafting. The custom is to make Shehechianu even on citrus fruits, which are all from grafted trees, for various reasons. First, since they are grafted with types that are arguably their own species, there is no disgrace in blessing over them [Yabiya Omer, ad. loc.]. Also, the grafting does not affect the appearance or taste of the fruit [Rav Eliayashiv]. Although this second reason would not justify a blessing on new strains of citrus fruits, since it is noticeable that they are grafted, still one could make a Shehechianu, since they themselves are not the direct outcome of grafting; rather, they are grown from saplings that have already been grafted (in addition to the fact that the grafting could be within the same species, as mentioned).

Even the nectarine--whose modern Hebrew nickname afarshazif implies grafting between a peach (afarsek) and plum (shezif)--is not really grafted, according to agronomists, but is really a type of peach.