Shehechiyanu for new fruit

Hi,

Next Wednesday is Tu b'Shevat. There is a custom of eating fruit, and particularly fruit associated with Israel, on this day. Here are some of the laws of Shehechiyanu for new fruit:

One who sees a seasonal, newly available fruit, and feels great joy at seeing it, recites the berachah of Shehechiyanu.  One whose personal joy is not that great should not recite Shehechiyanu.

Technically, one recites Shehechiyanu even when seeing someone else's fruit, but we generally recite Shehechiyanu only upon eating; this is when most people feel the greatest joy.

We recite Shehechiyanu before the borei pri ha'eitz recited for the fruit. One who eats many types of new fruit at the same sitting should recite one collective Shehechiyanu.

One does not recite Shehechiyanu on underripe fruit, even if it is somewhat edible. One does recite Shehechiyanu on cooked fruit.

Fruit which is available via import all year still warrants a Shehechiyanu when it begins to grow locally and one eats it for the first time, if the local fruit is fresher or better. Fruits which are available during two distinct times of the year, with a significant (at least one month) period of non-availability between them, warrant Shehechiyanu each time the fruit becomes available and its presence induces joy.

One should avoid reciting Shehechiyanu on fruit produced via a graft prohibited by the Torah. Shehechiyanu is not recited for items on which we recite a berachah of borei pri ha'adamah.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 225:3, 6; Mishneh Berurah 225:11-12, 18; Aruch haShulchan 225:7, 12; Birkei Yosef 225:4; Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:87, 2:58, 3:34)

Have a great day,

Mordechai