Farm to table produce picked fresh and headed straight to your house – like so many of the fruits and vegetables available at Perrine’s Produce – are the highest quality, most nutritious produce items you can buy. So always opt for fresh farm to table produce items whenever you can.

Proper storage, taking into consideration the correct temperature, adequate airflow and keeping vulnerable fruits and vegetables away from those that emit ethylene (which can send things South quick!) also helps. Plus, for extended storage, the freshest fruits and vegetables are definitely your best bet. Avoid purchasing produce items that are wilted, blemished, discolored, limp or wrinkled.

That said, how ripe your fruits and vegetables should be upon purchase depends on when you plan to use them. For instance, you don’t want to buy green bananas if you are going to place them on your cereal when you get home, but if you like bananas on your cereal throughout the week, you may want to plan on buying a few bananas that still need a bit of ripening along with some ripened bananas. 

Same goes for produce such as pineapples and melons. You want them fragrant and ripe if you are buying them for a party you are hosting the same evening, but in need of some ripening if they will be stored on your counter for a few days. You get the idea!