By Canny Savanney When it comes to buying your groceries, are you an expert at picking the freshest food possible? Now that it is summer, picking the ripest food is important when it comes to your fruit. Here are some key components to keep in mind the next time you make a trip to the store. 1. Wate...

By Canny Savanney

When it comes to buying your groceries, are you an expert at picking the freshest food possible? Now that it is summer, picking the ripest food is important when it comes to your fruit. Here are some key components to keep in mind the next time you make a trip to the store.

1. Watermelon – Want to pick out the sweetest watermelon for the season? It should feel heavy because the riper ones hold more water and it should sound hollow inside. A yellow spot on a watermelon is the side that was facing away from the sun.

2. Pineapple – When picking out a sweet pineapple, you want to make sure it has some yellow in its coloring and it produces a fragrant smell at its base. If it smells like a pineapple, it is ready to eat! Just remember to cut it first!

3. Avocado – Love avocados? Avocados have buttons. It’s true! Check under the bottom near the stem area, if it is green it is ripe to eat. If it yields light pressure, it is also ripe.

4. Peaches – Want a sweet peach? If it has a strip through the top it means it is ripe. A dark spot on a peach indicates where most of the sugar collects, making them sweeter.

5. Mangoes – A ripe mango will smell very fragrant. Color does not always determine whether they are ripe or not. A good mango should give to slight pressure.

6. Oranges – The button at the top of an orange will indicate if it is fresh. The heavier an orange is, the juicer it will be. Last, but not least, check for spots and bruises on them to determine if they are ripe. A good orange is all solid in color.

7. Apples – When picking out apples, they should be bright and firm. Their skin should not have any bruises or breaks. Red apples are usually sweeter than the green ones that are more typically used for baking items like pies. Apple signs usually tell you which ones are the best for snacking and baking, and which ones are best for other uses.

8. Cantaloupes – A ripe cantaloupe is beige in color. The stem end should also have some softness to it when you apply slight pressure, They should also have a fragrant smell to them.

Hopefully next time you are shopping for your fresh fruits for the summer, you will bear these tips in mind. Stay tuned for our next set of tips in our next issue!