Mountain Traveler
Rocky Mountain National Park
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Joined: 01/23/2005
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Super_Dave wrote:We recently bought our retirement house in Utah but still have a few years to work here in CA. The produce on the shelf in Utah is stuff that goes to the dumpster here in CA. I can't buy an avacado in Utah that isn't already mush in the skin. I've started to wonder if that is how they think it is supposed to be?
You will find out how spoiled you Californians are with your good produce.
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Us out West
Reno
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Joined: 12/13/2011
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Yup...we are good over the hill here in Reno.
Produce IS fresh...as fresh can be this time of the year. 
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Lemons750
Glenpool
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Joined: 04/25/2010
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The secret to produce is to know where to press or smell.
Keep in mind store bought is VERY green when it is picked so usually by the time it is ripe looking it is also rotten when it comes to fruit.
Veggies are kept on the shelf too long. Mostly because they have gotten too expensive to sell very fast.
Onions - look at the top if the rest feels firm then press in the peak at the top. If that is not firm it means the onion is either rotting or starting to grow. Either way you don't want it so keep digging. Most stores the fresher produce is under the bad so dig for it.
Carrots should be a good color and smell like carrots.Rule of thumb - if the tops are brown put them down. If they are in a bag and there is water in the bag or you see roots starting to grow - you don't want them.
Fruit should be firm but not hard with no bruises.
I can pick a perfect watermelon 99% of the time. Hold it to your ear and lightly thump it. If it has a thick sound it's still green. If it sounds too hollow and feels light for the size it is over ripe. It should feel firm, heavy and sound hollow.
Cantaloupe - you have to smell the end where the stem was. If it don't smell like fresh cantaloupe then it's still green and will be yucky before it gets right.
Farmers markets are the best place to buy produce but if you have to buy it at a store take the time to dig for the good stuff - it all costs the same and it is your money.
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fanciesmom
in our dreams
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Joined: 06/11/2010
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4 words! Buy seasonal, buy local. In the winter buy frozen (check to make sure it's grown in the USA).
I try not to buy produce "out of season". One of the interesting statistics I read recently cited that produce grown in South America and shipped here by ship is cheaper at the wholesale level that produce shipped across country by truck. It has to do with the tonnage that can be shipped per gallon of diesel. That means it's cheaper for wholesalers to buy foreign grown - but it takes longer to ship, and isn't subject to pesticide and quality controls.
In the Summer we purchase 90% of our fruit and veggies from Farmers' markets and fruit and veggie stands (but still watch for country of origin at some stands), and organic whenever we can.
Paranoia is only hindsight in advance.
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Fisherman
Angus, Ontario, Canada
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Joined: 09/28/2002
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I wonder if it doesn't have anything to do with all the genetically modified stuff made by "what" company from "what" country? Sometimes people have to look in their own back yard.
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