Judging a fruit or vegetable by its cover may have unfortunate consequences. Often, a bump or a bruise in produce’s exterior may be the secret to finding the supermarket’s most flavorful fruits and veggies.
Macey’s experienced team of produce managers has a couple of tips for picking the best produce.
- Handle your produce – The freshest fruits and vegetables are sturdy with tight skins.
- Visually examine each choice – The most savory fruits and veggies are often blemished and misshapen.
- Take a whiff – If you can’t tell after touching and looking at your produce, smell it! If it smells sweet and ripe, it’s good-to-go!
Some fruits and vegetables require more extensive examinations:
Broccoli
- Look for hard stems with tight floret clusters that are dark green.
Romaine Lettuce
- Look for crisp leaves, without brown edges.
Asparagus
- Look for green spears with purple buds. The thinner the spear, the sweeter the taste.
Grapes
- Find wrinkle-free, plump grapes that are attached to the stems. White powder on the grapes means they’ll stay fresher longer.
If you’re in doubt and can’t remember if bumps and bruises are good or bad, don’t hesitate to ask one of Macey’s expert produce managers for help.
