Rules of Fruit Shopping
There are not a lot of rules that can be written on what fruits to buy, year in and year out. Some years Mother Nature bestows certain varieties with quality and flavor, and some years not.
However, there are a few rules one should keep in mind when shopping for fresh fruit.
Go Local
Local will likely be more ripe and thus more flavorful. The local growing season can be very short, generally here in the northeast, just a third of the year. Take the time and visit a farm in you area. When there ask what is BEST NOW. A certain variety of peach or apple, perhaps fresh picked berries. Maybe you can find a farm where you can pick your own!
Go Ripe
I have even seen local farms that can’t control themselves and pile high displays of immature peaches. So, local doesn’t necessarily mean ripe. Use your senses to buy fruit, feel the tenderness, smell the fragrance, and admire the fresh glow of recently picked ripe fruit.
Shop at Busy Stores
Once you’re off the farm, the best way to ensure freshness of your fruit is by shopping at a store that is moving inventory fast. This is because time on the shelf is a fruits enemy. Fruit will dehydrate and even lose flavor or change flavor with time. Turnover is the key. Never shop for fruit in a store where you can picture the same fruit sitting out day after day. Shelf time is a death sentence for fruit, so stores that are busy will have fresher, better fruit. Big or small doesn’t matter the store just needs to be busy.
Hello! Anyone there?
Try and shop at stores where there is someone present in the produce department. This someone should be able to answer questions, and if they cannot answer on the spot, they should be willing to investigate the question and get back to you. If you read the Best Fruit Now.com recommendations you will likely be going into stores with questions. Where are these grapefruit from? Do you have Autumn Royal grapes? Are these Larry Anne plums? A store should be able to answer your questions, even if it takes a little time to get back to you.
Be Flexible
Understand that although you would really like a peach in November, there are times to run past the display of peaches. Get the Best Fruit Now app and always know what is best NOW. You will enjoy variety of great fruits, and you will be buying fruits that are appropriate, based on this season’s growing conditions.
Be Adventurous
There are a great many fruits that travel very far and frankly are worth the indulgence. Check out the “Try NOW” selections in the monthly Fruit Buying Guide. Support your local farms, yes. Do things in your life to limit your carbon footprint, yes. But live without the pleasure of the exotic Lychee or Ataulfo mango, no way! And for that matter I could not live without a wide array of fresh fruits to choose from year round. Eat Real Food, and that includes a variety of fresh fruit!
Wash with a Wash
There are many schools of thought on whether to go organic or not and I think that is a personal decision to be based on your own priorities. Hormone free meats, organic milk are higher priorities for me. If you choose conventional, please wash your fruit with a natural cleanser. Find a cleanser that will remove dirt, wax, and chemical residues on your fruit. Whether organic or not, this should still be done. You do NOT need to spend lots of money on a fancy "wash" at the store, sea salt with lemon juice or even baking soda with water will do the job just fine!
Shop like a Professional!
Start thinking like a Pro! Ask the variety of all your fruits! Sure you know your older apple varieties like the Granny Smith and Red Delicious. But what about Honeycrisp or Jazz? How about those red grapes? Are they Flame seedless or Crimsons or a newer variety like Sweet Scarlett? How about those green grapes are they Perlettes, Thompsons, Princess, or Sugraones? Most grapes you’d buy are one of the varieties noted above. That’s not too much to know, and being able to identify which is which will make you closer to being a "Pro" Fruit Shopper! Fruits have hundreds if not thousands of varieties of each type. The fact that there are so many doesn’t mean you need to know them all, just be able to sift through what the stores are offering SO you can select the best for you and your family. I need you to start thinking like a Pro and seeking out varieties of fresh fruit. The monthy Fruit Buying Guide will teach you which varieties are best NOW!
Can you think of a rule that is missing? Please post any suggestions!!
Enjoy this site, and Enjoy great fruit!!
Tom Kovacevich
Author BestFruitNow.com
G.M. TMKproduce.com
