How to Become a Produce Picking Expert

A US government report revealed that in 2015, only 9% of adults consumed an adequate amount of vegetables and only 12% ate an adequate amount of fruit. The worst groups were men, young adults and adults living in poverty.

Failing to eat adequate amounts of produce will significantly increases your risk for the most common chronic diseases, such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease.

Appearance can be deceiving, since some produce is bred for appearance rather than flavor.

Produce Picking Tips:

1. An attractive appearance doesn't always equal a good taste.

2. Your hands and nose can be as useful than your eyes in determining freshness. A gentle squeeze of the produce can do a lot to determine freshness as well as ripeness. The fragrance can also be a good indicator of ripeness.

3. Try to shop for a particular fruit or vegetable when it is currently in season.

4. Beware of GMOs. The biggest GMO crops are soy, corn, cottonseed and canola. Alfalfa, some apples, papaya and squash can also be GMO. Contrary to some reports, there are currently no GMO tomatoes and no GMO wheat on the market. Wheat is however dried out with glyphosate, which is used as a desiccant and is the active ingredient in Roundup, made by Monsanto. Glyphosate has be labeled by the World health Organization as a probable carcinogen.

5. Limp or rubbery produce and produce with skin that isn't smooth is usually way past its prime.

6. Bruises, wormholes, nicks and brown areas or streaks are also indicators to move on.

There are more tips in the link below about what to look out for when picking out a number of specific produce items.

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