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Cooking Tips
Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Selection

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Fresh Fruit Selection

Look for Fruit that is . . .

Apples

Firm, of good color, with no sign of brown scald.

Avocados

Bright looking with no bruises and just beginning to soften.

Bananas

Plump, bright yellow or red, not bruised or split.

Berries

Plump, fully ripe, clean, dry, and with no signs of mold. (Check berries at bottom of container.)

Citrus Fruit

Firm, heavy for size. Green tinge does not affect quality.

Cranberries

Fresh, plump, firm, with bright color and luster. May be damp but not sticky with fluid.

Grapes

Plump, ripe, firmly attached to stems.

Melons

Smoothly rounded with coarse netting on rind of cantaloupes. Sunken and callused scar on stem end.

Peaches

Ripe but firm, free from blemishes or brown decay spots.

Pears

Firm but not hard, free from blemishes or scald.

Pineapple

Heavy for size, firm, ripe, with sweet fragrance. Center leaves loosen easily when ripe.

Plums

Plump, full colored for variety. Slightly soft with no brownish sunburn.

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Fresh Vegetable Selection

Look for Vegetables that are . . .

Artichokes

Compact, plump, heavy globes with tight, fleshy scales and good green color.

Asparagus

Tender, bright green, compact tips.

Beans, lima

Well-filled, crisp, dark green pods.

Beans, snap

Firm and crisp pods that snap easily.

Beets

Medium size, smooth and blemish-free with no soft spots.

Broccoli

Compact and green clusters with no show of yellow flowers.

Brussel Sprouts

Firm, compact and bright green with no signs of worms or lice damage.

Cabbage

Solid, hard, and heavy for size.

Carrots

Firm, clean, of good shape and color.

Cauliflower

Heavy and compact with clean, white color and no smudgy spots indicating lice.

Celery

Crisp, clean, of medium length with fresh looking leaves.

Corn

Fresh green husks and cobs filled with milky kernels.

Lettuce

Clean, crisp, tender, free from brown areas.

Mushrooms

Young, plump, small to medium, clean, white, with closed caps.

Okra

Tender, fresh, small to medium pods that snap easily.

Onions (all kinds)

Firm, well shaped with dry skins and no sign of sprouting.

Parsnip

Smooth, well shaped, small to medium size.

Peas

Young tender pods with right green color.

Peppers

Mature, firm, well shaped of bright green and/or red color.

Potatoes, sweet

Smooth, firm and bright yellow (sweet potatoes) or reddish orange (yams).

Potatoes, white

Reasonably smooth and clean with no signs of green or sprouting.

Spinach

Crisp, crinkly, and unbruised with good green color and no spindly or overgrown stalks.

Squash, summer

Firm and heavy for size with tender rind.

Squash, winter

Firm and heavy for size with hard, dry rind.

Tomatoes

Firm and of good color but not over ripe.

Turnips

Firm, smooth of medium size with few fibrous roots.

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Meat & Poultry Selection
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