Picking the ripest and freshest fruits and vegetables is no easy task, it is not merely based on intuition it’s a task that requires all five sense. Picking the perfect apple can be obvious; however, there are some fruits and vegetables that make you think twice before placing them in the shopping cart.

Before you start picking through your favorite fruits and vegetables, there are three key points you need to keep in mind.

Don’t judge the produce by the way it looks

A glossy and symmetrical tomato may look beautiful, but do you think it will taste as good as it looks? Often irregularly shaped fruits or vegetables are the perfect pick, they are juicy, delicious and fresh. Don’t let looks deceive you, imperfections can lead to a wonderful world of flavour and sweetness.

Don’t be afraid to use your hands

You can learn a lot about a fruit or a vegetable from picking it up. It will help you examine and understand a good produce. Next time you are grocery shopping don’t forget to use your hands to test for ripens and freshness.

Make sure it’s the right season

It’s very crucial to shop during the right season to grantee better prices and taste. If you follow these three rules you will start bringing home the best fruits and vegetables.

The Waterfront Market offers the freshest fruits and vegetables. Whether you are looking for local, organic or exotic produce you will find it at the fruits and vegetables market. Here are a few tips and hacks on how to choose the ripest and right produce, they might come in handy when you’re shopping at the Waterfront Market.

1. Watermelon

Season: May to August

When it comes to picking the right watermelon, make sure to go for the heaviest one in the basket. Heavy watermelons indicate more water content, as watermelons ripen, they accumulate more water and sweeter flavour. A whole watermelon can be stored in the fridge for about a week.

2. Bananas

Season: All year long

The perfect method for picking bananas is selecting the unripe ones and let them ripen at home. However, if you prefer to select ripe bananas make sure to go for the ones that have a uniform yellow colour or the ones with small brown freckles. Store unripe bananas on the kitchen counter away from direct sunlight or heat. But once they ripen you will need to store them in the refrigerator.

 

3. Mangoes

Season: April to August

Ripe mangoes have soft red skin with visible yellow spots, but make sure to consume them within 5 days. But if you’re looking to store mangoes for longer then you should pick mangoes with tighter skin with a slightly duller colour and green near the stem. You should store unripe mangoes at room temperature until fragrant.

4. Avocado

Season: all year long

The perfect avocado should feel firm, has no bruises and has a deep green colour. Give the avocado a tiny shake before placing it in your shopping cart, if it rattles then you will need to pick another other. Store avocados in a paper bag at room temperature for 2-4 days, once ripened you can store them in the fridge for a week.

5. Eggplant

Season: August to September

When selecting an eggplant look for the one with tight and shiny skin. Picking the perfect eggplant highly relies on your sense of touch, give the eggplant a little squeeze to make sure you pick a bouncy not a spongy one. Eggplants are very sensitive to low temperature, make sure to store them in a cool location and not the fridge. 

6. Lemon and Limes

Season: Lemons all year long; limes, May to October

Ripe lemon and limes should have a bright yellow or green colour with smooth exterior. You can store lemon and limes in a dark space at room temperature for a week or refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

Now that you know how to pick the right fruits and vegetables, click on the following link to visit our fruit and vegetable market section.