Tips For Buying Seasonal Produce

Summer is such a great time of the year for many reasons. One of my number one reasons ~ fresh fruit and vegetables! There is always such an abundance of fresh, local fruit that is so mouthwatering. You just can't get enough. Once you get all these mouth - erful (can't think of anything that explains that wonderful mouthful feeling!) fruits and veggies home, how do you store them. According to Tom Lively, an Oregon-based peach grower there are a few tips to consider.

Berries: Toms says, refrigerate these immediately. That is unless you prefer to savor them at room temperature. Raspberries are typically the most fragile. Blueberries are the hardiest. So unless you plan on eating your raspberries right away, put them away. "If I was going to buy berries for the week, I would eat my raspberries first, strawberries second and blueberries third."

I'm not sure these would even last an hour at our house!

Stone Fruit: These would include peaches, plums, nectarines and apricots. When you are purchasing these fruits, make sure you test them gently for ripeness. Slightly press at the very top of the fruit, right by the stem. When you feel that little bit of a give in that area, then you will know it's ripe. If you prefer to purchase your fruit a little less ripe, you can ripen them in stages at home. Store half on the counter and the ripened half in the fridge.

If you want to ripen your stone fruits faster, try the paper bag method. Place your fruits (avocados as well) in a paper bag to trap the ethylene gas they naturally emit. Check them often because they can ripen fairly quickly. If you want to hasten the ripening even more, add a banana to the bag.

No matter what fruit you prefer, you will enjoy it more when it's kept safe and beautiful before you take that first sweet bite! Enjoy!