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2022 blog

Is This Good Yet? tfc Ultimate Guide to Picking the Best Produce

Picking the right produce can be daunting! Nobody wants to drop a pretty penny on produce, only to take it home and realize it’s not ripe when it’s needed or that it rots far too quickly.

So how do you know you’re picking the best produce? We’ve compiled all the research & facts in one place so you don’t have to!

As a bonus, we’ve included a table at the end on where you should store your perfect produce picks once you get them back home to maximize their freshness and keep them from spoiling too soon!

Be sure to save this so you can come back to it time and again to keep your fruits & veggies fresh, and check out our nutrition services if you are looking to level up your grocery shopping game!

apples
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

September – May

firm with no soft spots

apricots
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

June – July

golden yellow, plump, and firm; not yellow or green, not very hard or soft, not wilted

banana
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

January – December

firm with no bruises

blueberries
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

June – August

firm, plump, and brightly colored

cantaloupe
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

May – August

slightly golden with light fragrant smell

cherries
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

May – June

fresh appearing, firm

coconuts
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

September – March

good weight for size with inside milk still fluid

cranberries
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

March – July, September – December

firm, plump, and brightly colored

grapefruit
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

October – June

firm, well rounded, and heavy for size, avoid puffy/rough skinned

grapes
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

May – September

firm, plump, and has well colored clusters

honeydew
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

February – October

creamy yellow rounds and pleasant aroma

kiwi
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

June – August

soft

oranges
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

November – May

firm, heavy for size, and has brightly colored skin

peaches
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

June – September

soft to touch with fragrant smell

pears
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

August – May

yields gently to pressure at stem end

pineapples
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

February – August

slightly soft; ripe when leaves are easily removed with small tug

plums
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

June – September

plump, yield to slight pressure

pomegranate
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

September – November

thin-skinned and bright purple-red

strawberries
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

April – July

dry, firm, and bright red in color

artichoke
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

March – May

plump and compact with green, fresh-looking scales

asparagus
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

March – June

straight, tender, deep green stalks with tightly closed buds

avocado
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

January – December

firm but yields to gentle pressure

bell pepper
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

January – December

firm skin and no wrinkles

broccoli
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

October – May

dark green bunches

brussels sprouts
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

October – November

tight outer leaves, bright green color, and firm body

carrots
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

January – December

deep orange and not cracked or wilted

cauliflower
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

September – November

bright green leaves enclosing firm and closely packed white curd

celery
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

January – December

fresh, crisp branches with light green to green color

corn
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

May – August

green, tight, and fresh-looking husk; ears with tightly packed rows of plump kernels

cucumber
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

May – July

firm with rich green color and no soft spots

eggplant
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

June – September

firm, heavy, smooth, and uniformly dark purple

lettuce
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

January – December

fresh, crisp leaves without wilting

mushrooms
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

January – April

firm, moist, and blemish-free

onion
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

January – December

dry and solid with no soft spots or sprouts

peas
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

April – June

bright green and full

peppers
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

January – December

firm with thick flesh and glossy skin

spinach
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

March – May

large, bright leaves; avoid coarse stems

summer squash
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

June – August

firm with bright and glossy skin

sweet potato
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

September – December

firm, dark, and smooth

tomato
best season:
how to tell when it’s ripe

May – August

plump with smooth skin and no blemishes

store in fridge
  • apples (if storing 7+ days)
  • apricots
  • cantaloupe
  • figs
  • honeydew
  • artichokes
  • beets
  • blackberries
  • blueberries
  • broccoli
  • brussels sprouts
  • cabbage
  • carrots
  • cauliflower
  • celery
  • cherries
  • corn
  • grapes
  • green beans
  • green onions
  • herbs (except basil)
  • lima beans
  • leafy veggies
  • leeks
Fridge, con’t
  • lettuce
  • mushrooms
  • okra
  • peas
  • plums
  • radishes
  • raspberries
  • spinach
  • sprouts
  • strawberries
  • summer squash
  • yellow squash
  • zucchini
ripen on counter, then store in fridge
  • avocados
  • nectarines
  • peaches
  • pears
  • plums
  • kiwis
store on counter
  • apples (if storing less than a week)
  • bananas
  • tomatoes
  • basil
  • cucumbers
  • eggplant
  • garlic
  • ginger
  • grapefruit
  • lemons
  • limes
  • mangoes
  • oranges
  • papayas
  • peppers
  • pineapple
  • plantains
  • pomegranates
  • watermelon
store in pantry
  • acorn squash
  • butternut squash
  • onions (keep away from potatoes)
  • potatoes (keep away from onions)
  • pumpkins
  • spaghetti squash
  • sweet potatoes
  • winter squash

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