Picking Produce Part 3

The next thing to do in picking produce is to smell it. Especially with fruit, a musty or sour smell means that it is already going bad.

Test the weight of the fruit. If it feels particularly heavy for it's size, it will be sweet and juicy. This is particularly true for fruits like plums, peaches, and mangoes.

While you're testing the weight, you can also be testing the firmness. Produce like mushrooms, broccoli, and artichokes should be closed tightly. If the cap of the mushroom is split, it is starting to dry out and spoil. The same is true for artichokes in that the buds should be tightly closed. The florets on the broccoli should also be tightly together.