<p>Produce is on sale when it is in season and plentiful, be more wary of it when higher priced in the off season. Low price for grapes and other fruits is not because of poor quality. I have learned to only buy grapes from certain stores as the quality depends on the suppliers used.</p>
<p>I found that off season melons (from South America) never ripened nicely. Currently I am being patient with a melon that is nearly ripe- waiting that extra day or two for full odor at the stem and more softness. The last one I cut a bit too soon.</p>
<p>Nectarines have been difficult this season- seem to go from not ripe enough to overripe too quickly.</p>
<p>Wish I had taken written notes on our Costa Rican pineapple farm visit. There are tricks I have forgotten- not as obvious as we thought.</p>
<p>Pears and other fruits do best in a paper bag, I take them out when nearly at peak so they don’t quickly over ripen.</p>
<p>Years ago I heard that the first and last oranges were not as good as the middle crops available- due to rushing some to market at first and not waiting with a dwindling end of season crop. Therefore I don’t rush in to buy the first available navel oranges. Now living in Florida but find California navel oranges are better than the local ones (excellent juice, though).</p>
<p>Apples last longer when refrigerated.</p>
<p>Strawberries need to be truly red without being too dark when purchased.</p>
<p>Bananas- personal preference. I dislike over ripe ones others like. Too green and they don’t ripen well. Also need to buy in mall quantities or you have too many ripe at once. Remember the ethylene gas ripens the tomatoes and all fruits in the fruit basket at the same time!</p>
<p>We grow our own peaches, pears, watermelon and canteloupe - as well as veggies and herbs. Our apple trees never stood a chance against the deer and though I have 3 cherry trees we’ve never beaten the birds. The first trick is to not buy out of season. Now I’m spoiled and nothing tastes as good from a store or stand as I grow in my backyard. This is the very year we actually had success growing melons. It’s almost more art than science and you need a nose like a bloodhound. Don’t get me going on tomatoes in the winter. </p>
<p>Melons can be tricky. That’s why I often prefer to buy a 1/4 slice of a whole watermelon instead of a whole. I can see the inside and have better luck picking a good one. A little more expensive, but it’s also more likely to get eaten AND stores in the refrigerator easier. Same with cantaloupe - sometimes like it when they have a few cut halfs out for selection. </p>
<p>This has not been a good year for fruit. Maybe the winter was too hard. Last year was amazing but this year much of the fruit won’t ripen properly. We had terrible cold and then spring cold and that has, it seems, an effect. </p>
<p>I’ve become frustrated with the stone fruits this year - nice looking but not quite ripe at the store then wrinkly and rotting after a few days. </p>
<p>I don’t refrigerate most fruits…we try to eat berries on the day they are purchased. If anything is leftover, I put it in our wine cooler, which keeps it just cool enough to ■■■■■■ spoilage for a day.</p>
<p>On a happier note, I’ve really been enjoying the fresh figs the past few weeks.</p>
<p>^^^Gourmetmom, do you shop for fruit daily/every few days? Just curious, because I would love to not be able to refrigirate my fruit, but I have to, given that I eat at least 4-5 pieces of fruit daily and have to have enough to last me at least a week.</p>
<p>I go to the market every day that I cook dinner, which is about five nights per week. I like to get chicken, meat or fish fresh on the day I use it, so I’ll usually buy produce (and fresh bread) for the meal as well. Meals are a big deal around here!</p>
<p>@lergnom, are you on the east by any chance? I have also noticed that fruit is not as good this year. Peaches don’t ripen, but turn moldy. I’m purchasing from the same vendors, and using the same ripening bowl, as last year. I too thought it might be contributed to the hard winter.</p>
<p>Fruits this year not as good… melons especially which is too bad as I am a big melon eater. The best peaches/nectarines that I had this year all came from Trader Joe’s but then I returned because of listeria scare. Red grapes however were pretty good.</p>
<p>As for me… .ready to move on to apples and pears. </p>
<p>I always buy my peaches hard and then brown bag them at home for 2-3 days. Have had many delicious ones this late summer over cottage cheese for breakfast in the morning!!! </p>
<p>I buy a lot of fruit by smell. Also, as weird as it sounds, years ago my sister told me she stands back and looks for the fruit that “glows”. It never fails to surprise me how well that works. (Assuming you’re not shopping in Los Alamos, of course.) </p>
<p>I usually buy my produce at Whole Foods, where they will often give you a sample if you’re unsure.</p>
<p>The Red Delicious apple has been ruined by growers in the last 20 years to the point that their popularity has greatly diminished. I still love 'em but I certainly detect a decrease in quality/taste in recent years.</p>
<p>Much of the fruit in markets in the northeast are imported from South America, and the growers there have made great strides in the quality and taste of their fruits. I’ve had good results with Canteloupes, pears and even apples from south of the border. Smell is important.</p>
<p>The U.S. still produces the best grapes, oranges and watermelon. Leave your peaches and pears on the countertop to ripen. Both need air circulation to bring out the sugar and moisture.</p>
<p>I hope northeasterners are not now eating South American melons and peaches. That would be terrible, as those frutis are six months out of season in the southern hemisphere. In South America, it’s early spring, so not much would be in season there. Cherries, maybe. I don’t know if cherries are grown in South America, but I doubt they are exported here. </p>
<p>I doubt it too, because cherries are fragile and their season is very short. Ever had a fresh Michigan Cherry? Me neither. They are said to be wonderful, but the harvest season is woefully short. Even western Bing Cherries aren’t around that long.</p>
<p>By the way, apples are available out of season in the U.S. because the industry has perfected apple refrigeration. Tons of U.S. apples are stored in huge warehouses for months at a time with only a slight decline in their quality (although usually you can taste the difference from an apple just picked from the tree, of course). This technology has been around at least since the 1970s.</p>
<p>Yes, @LakeWashington, I buy all my apples from a local orchard. They are still good in May. Over the summer there are too many local fruits available to bother with apples, but I’m always amazed at how good they taste through the winter and early spring.</p>
<p>I have had fresh Michigan cherries, yum , and fresh Hood River cherries too. Fruit stands are one of the great treats of bike touring. I rarely pass one by when I’m touring.</p>