Summer’s here, and the time is right for fresh produce. These tips will help you get the most out of it. Garden Fresh
BY MARY LAHR SCHIER
Whether you grow your own produce, frequent farmers’ markets, or shop at your local grocery store, early summer is the ideal time to gorge on glorious fresh fruits and vegetables. In particular, asparagus, greens, snap peas, and strawberries are at their best right now. But how can you tell if your produce is perfect? Gardeners know it’s time to pick when a fruit or vegetable has reached its full size, has a deep color, and looks almost tight in its skin. Bulges, blemishes, and soft spots mean produce is past its prime. Apply the same standards when you’re shopping. The rules are the same if you’re in a discount grocery, co-op, or a more upscale store: Look for lettuce and greens with a firm shape, smooth cucumbers, and snap peas with a uniform color. And if you’re buying greens in plastic containers, check for signs of rot at the bottom. Shopping at a farmers’ market? Ask the grower when the vegetables were harvested — it could’ve been as early as that morning.
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