Picking out fruits and vegetables is easy if you know what to look for. Learn about picking out fresh produce at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits and vegetables.
There are 28 videos in this series:
Mangoes shouldn't be too soft, but a little bit of yellow is okay. Learn about picking out mangoes and fresh produce at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits.
Red peppers should be medium-colored and not too soft. Learn about picking out fresh produce, such as red peppers, at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits.
Give a watermelon a little knock and listen for a nice hollow sound. Learn about picking out watermelons at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits and fresh produce.
Avoid navel oranges with a little green on them, and a firm orange is better than a soft one. Learn about picking out navel oranges at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits and fresh produce.
A little bit of green color signifies a tangerine that's not quite ripe. Learn about picking out honey tangerines at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits and fresh produce.
Choose a grapefruit that has some orange color and isn't entirely yellow. Learn about picking out Florida grapefruit at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits and fresh produce.
Stay away from marks and bruises on lemons, but look for the dark yellow ones. Learn about picking out lemons at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits and fresh produce.
Avoid limes that are too yellow. A darker color will produce a sweeter lime. Learn about picking out limes at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits and fresh produce.
Stay away from potatoes with any green coloration or soft spots. Learn about picking out potatoes at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fresh produce and vegetables.
Give the bottom of a honey dew melon a push, and put it back if it gives way or is too soft. Learn about picking out honey dew melons at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits and fresh produce.
Choose a cantaloupe that doesn't have any soft spots or bruises. Learn about picking out cantaloupes at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits and fresh produce.
A darker brown kiwi will be squishier than a golden kiwi. Learn about picking out kiwi at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits and fresh produce.
A ripe avocado should be pretty soft, and it's best to avoid cuts and bruises. Learn about picking out avocados at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits and fresh produce.
Choosing an eggplant is all about finding a nice smooth one, and darker eggplants will be softer than lighter-colored eggplants. Learn about picking out eggplants at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits and fresh produce.
Avoid tomatoes that are lightly colored or contain soft spots. Learn about picking out tomatoes at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits and fresh produce.
Heads of lettuce should be solid and hard, so avoid soft heads of lettuce or ones with brown coloration. Learn about picking out lettuce at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fresh produce and vegetables.
Try to avoid picking heads of cauliflower that are too white, but instead look for those that are starting to turn yellow. Learn about picking out cauliflower at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fresh produce and vegetables.
Beware of soft spots and bruises on apples. Learn about picking out apples at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits and fresh produce.
Stay away from the bigger cucumbers and look for thinner, more crisp cucumbers. Learn about picking out cucumbers at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits and fresh produce.
Look for pears that are a little more yellow and less green. Learn about picking out pears at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits and fresh produce.
Tug on the leaves at the top of a pineapple, and if they slide out easily, than the pineapple is ripe. Learn about picking out pineapples at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits and fresh produce.
Avoid green bananas, and instead look for ones that are entirely a nice, light yellow. Learn about picking out bananas at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits and fresh produce.
Choose an onion that is solid and doesn't have too much skin. Learn about picking out onions at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fresh produce and vegetables.
Smaller yams will have less stringy fibers than larger sweet potatoes. Learn about picking out yams at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fresh produce and vegetables.
Look for a dark green color in bell peppers. Learn about picking out green peppers at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits and fresh produce.
When buying fruits, vegetables, and other farm-produced goods, freshness is an absolute must. Whether you shop at a supermarket, a greengrocer, or a farmers' market for your produce, there is a basic food inspection ritual you've doubtlessly witnessed which fascinates and even frightens those of us who nourish ourselves entirely on a diet of fast foods. What are they looking for? How do they know which test to run on which vegetable? What is this secret knowledge which allows some to eat fresher than others?
If you want to eat fresh produce, it's beneficial to take your time and really examine the fruits and vegetables you're planning on buying. In this free video series, the manager of a market will teach you how to pick out a number of fruits and vegetables. You'll learn how to choose everything from apples and bananas to kiwis and watermelons, from broccoli and lettuce to yams and celery. You'll also learn which fruits and vegetables should be hard or soft, lightly or darkly colored, and how to tell when a fruit or vegetable is ripe. With these tips, you'll soon find yourself eating only the freshest produce that can be found at the supermarket.
Jerry DiVietri Jerry DiVietri has been working at Horrocks Farm Market in Lansing, Michigan for over five years. He has worked in produce, the garden center, and now manages.dkdk
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