Know your produce

Selecting a Perfect Avocado
Avocados ripen after harvesting. As each one ripens, its color transforms from dark green to a deep purple, almost black, color. However, touch is usually a more accurate indicator of ripeness. If the avocado gives to firm but gentle touch, that means it’s ripe and ready to eat. If it’s mushy or soft, it’s probably overripe.

Care and Handling
An unripe avocado can take four to five days to ripen at room temp. To speed up the process, place it in a bag with an apple or banana for two to three days until ripe. Store a cut, ripe avocado in an air-tightcontainer or cover with clear plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for a day.

Selecting a Perfect Bunch of Grapes

• Choose grapes that are plump and firmly attached to their stems with no wilting. Look for red grapes that have a deep purple color with no sign of green coloring. When buying green grapes, those with a slight pale-yellow color will have the best flavor and texture. 

Care and Handling

• Store unwashed grapes in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to a week. The sooner you enjoy them, the better the taste and firmness.

Grapes Contain

Phytonutrients, particularly in the compound resveratrol, that are found within the skin of grapes and may help prevent various kinds of cancer and heart disease

• Vitamin A
• A variety of minerals
• A higher flavonoid content in red grapes, which makes them richer in antioxidants than white grapes
• 1 to 1.5 grams of fiber, 0.3 grams of fat, 2 milligrams of sodium, no cholesterol and just about 100 calories in one cup of grapes

Selecting a Perfect Apple
Good apples are relatively easy to select. Of course, there are many different varieties, but there are some common things to look for. Just watch to make sure they’re free of bruises, decay or broken or shriveled skin. Also, they should be relatively firm, which is usually a good indicator of ripeness.

Bananas Contain:

• 20% of the Daily Value of Vitamin B6 to help reduce fatigue, provide the body with iron and jump start your metabolism
• 15% of the Daily Value of Vitamin C to reduce fatigue, develop bones, cartilage, gums and teeth
• 15% of the Daily Value of Manganese to maintain healthy bones and protect cells
• 13% of the Daily Value of Potassium to maintain muscles and blood pressure
• 12% of the dietary fiber intake (one banana) to improve digestion

Care and Handling

Don’t store unripe bananas in the refrigerator. So they’ll ripen properly, store at room temp. However, after they ripen, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Typically, bananas will ripen in one to three days. If you want them to ripen faster, place them in a paper or plastic bag. Consider adding an apple to the bag to speed the ripening process. And just because a banana is overripe doesn’t mean you have to discard it. Slice the banana into small chucks, place in a freezer bag and store in the freezer for use in breads, desserts, smoothies and sauces. 

Selecting a Perfect Blackberry

When choosing blackberries, look for deep, evenly colored berries with a nice sheen. The berries should be plump and dry and should not have dents or bruises. Blackberries range in color from deep blue/purple to deep purple/black. Blackberries are often two-tone in color, which is perfectly natural and does not affect ripeness.

Care and Handling

For best results, refrigerate your blackberries and keep them dry in storage. Blackberries, like their bush-berry cousin, the raspberry, are especially fragile. It is important to handle them gently when rinsing. If you plan to freeze your blackberries for jams and jellies, wash your berries carefully in cold water and pack them into freezable containers. Berries need to be rinsed just before use.