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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