A Guide to Selecting Seasonal Produce
The calendar is the most reliable tool in your kitchen. When you buy vegetables and fruits in their natural season, you skip the produce that was harvested early and forced to ripen in transit.
Trust your senses over the grocery label.
Your nose and your hands will tell you more about the quality of a vegetable than the sign above the display. Spend a moment interacting with the food before you buy.
- your hands
- your nose
- a reusable cloth bag
The Weight and Scent Rule
Pick up a piece of produce; if it feels lighter than it looks, it is likely pithy or dried out inside. Then, sniff the stem end—if it doesn't smell like the plant it came from, it is not ready for the table.
The method.
Check the weight
Lift two similar items in each hand. The one that feels significantly heavier for its size is holding more juice and is fresher.
Inspect for firmness
Press gently around the stems and base of tomatoes, melons, and stone fruits. You want a slight give, not a soft indentation that stays pressed in.
Examine the exterior
Look for consistent coloring across the skin. Avoid produce with green shoulders on fruits that should be solid red, or shriveled skins on root vegetables, which indicates a loss of moisture.
Verify the stem
The stem should be attached and show no signs of mold. If the stem looks dry and woody, the fruit has likely been off the vine for too long.
When it doesn't go to plan.
When buying greens, look for bright, crisp leaves; skip bunches that have started to turn yellow or show slime at the base.
Root vegetables like carrots and beets should be rock-hard. If they have any flexibility, they will be rubbery when cooked.
Garlic and onions should feel dense, not hollow. If you can squeeze them at all, they are starting to sprout from the inside.
The ones that keep coming up.
Does organic produce always taste better?
Not necessarily. Taste is dictated by the soil quality, the variety grown, and how recently the produce was harvested, regardless of the farming label.
Why does my store-bought fruit have no scent?
This usually happens when fruit is picked before it matures to survive long-distance shipping. It never develops the aromatic compounds that define peak ripeness.
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