Tips on Enjoying the Bounties of Summer Fruits and Vegetables

Today, it is becoming harder to find fresh fruits and vegetables worthy of the prices you are being charged. So, it's important to at least reduce your risk in selecting bad fruits and vegetables by knowing what to look for.

Tips

Before purchasing your fruits or vegetables, make sure you do not select any that have bruises or are damaged.

Clean them off with running tap water when you are about to use them, not before. Depending on what fruit or vegetables, water can hasten deterioration.

When you do no refrigerate, fruits and vegetables will ripen quicker on the counter and most times taste better.

Do not use the same cutting board to cut your fruits or vegetables that you use to cut meats with.

Examples of Selecting Good Fruits and Vegetables

Blueberries - Look for plump, firm fresh blueberries that have a light powder grey-blue color. You can keep blueberries up to 2 weeks in your refrigerator. Frozen blueberries can last up to 2 years if you store them in a tightly sealed container.

Cantaloupes - Select medium sized cantaloupes with a thick, raised netting.

Corn - For corn on the cob, you should select husks that are tight around the kernels and are bright green showing freshness. Kernels need to be plump and firm when you put some pressure on it. If you wrap the ears of corn with plastic wrap, it will keep in your refrigerator for several days.

Peaches - Always smell your fruit. A peach should have a pleasant sweet fragrance. Look for a creamy gold to a yellow color. The redness of the peach does not mean it is more ripe, but a variety of peaches. Never squeeze a peach or it will bruise. If you have a firm peach and you want to ripen it, place it on your kitchen counter and check it daily. It typically takes two or three days for a peach to ripen. Then place it in the refrigerator where it should last about a week after you purchase them.

Vidalia Onions - Onions are sweeter when when they are round on the bottom, yett flat on top. They should have a light golden-brown exterior. Onions can last 10- 12 weeks. One way to store them is to take an old clean pair of panty hose - tie a knot on the bottom, place the onions in the hose - tie another knot on top. Hang them in a cool, well ventilated area.

Watermelons - It's really important to know the watermelon season in the different areas you are purchasing watermelons. Here, in Florida by July, our watermelons start to get mushier. Yet, in Georgia, you can get the best tasting watermelons in July. One way of picking out a good watermelon is by thumping with your knuckles for hollowness. Lift the melon up to feel the heaviness in its size - look for a creamy yellow under belly for ripeness. A white or green under belly is typically not ripe; as well as too much yellow can be indicative of over ripeness. The under belly should never be splotch in color.

Tomatoes - Always look for well formed tomatoes that are smooth, ripe and blemish free. A rich red color and slight softness is indicative of ripeness. If they are firm, place them on the counter to maximize the flavor before storing them in the refrigerator. Only put your tomatoes in the refrigerator if they are ripe.

Finding good produce at the grocery store is becoming harder these days. To help the environment and your wallet, always shop at your nearest farmer's market. Most times they are cheaper and have better quality of fruits and vegetables.

Source: Georgia Farm Bureau