How to Select Fruit
By: Megan Wiles—Intern
Summer is the season of fruits. Many of the most beloved fruits are at their peak ripeness in the hottest months of the year, making fruit salad, fruit pies, and fruity smoothies popular treats for summer. But choosing fruits can be difficult and confusing. It’s hard to know how to make sure the melons and berries you bring home are fresh, ripe, and delicious. But there are some tricks you can use to ensure your produce is top-of-the-line and ready to be devoured by you and your family.
The most important factor in choosing a watermelon is the field spot. This refers to the big yellow spot on the melon where it rested on the field. This will only appear on one side of the melon, so the other side could look completely different, and that’s okay. The darker the field spot, the longer the watermelon was on the vine, and therefore the riper it will be. The surface of the melon should also be dull, as shiny or glossy watermelons are less ripe. You may also want to look for sugar spots or pollination marks. If you see black spots, this is where sugar is seeping out, and lines of small holes are a sign of pollination, both of which are indicative of sweetness. Like cantaloupe, it’s also a good idea to get a heavy melon and tap on it with your knuckles or fingers to check for a deep, solid sound.
Knowing how to choose ripe and fresh fruit is especially important when shopping at a grocery store as opposed to a local farmer’s market or fruit vendor. Just because it’s being sold in the store doesn’t mean it’s ready to be eaten. So, when you get a craving for a summer fruit salad or a nutritious sweet treat, check the produce you’re buying so you don’t wind up with a disappointing dud