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Summertime brings a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables, but often times consumers have no idea how to choose the best produce. Follow these tips when choosing your summer fruits and vegetables and you’ll always get the freshest one in the bunch.
Charlotte Regional Farmers Market
Find out what's happening in Charlottefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
1801 Yorkmont Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28217
Find out what's happening in Charlottefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
(704) 357-1269
Open:
October – April
Tuesday – Saturday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
May – September
Tuesday – Saturday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
Charlotte Regional Farmers Market is a good place to shop for your seasonal produce — after all, the grower is right there and you can ask all the questions you want. Check out these these tips from the farmers.
Know Your Seasons
Do your research and learn what grows in the area and what will be coming to market in the upcoming weeks. This will help you to save time when you go shopping. North Carolina grows a wide variety of produce. Depending on the region, growing seasons will vary.
Hard Fruits
The best hard fruits to buy are those that are heavy, because it is a good indication of the fruits juiciness.
Look for fruit with no skin damage.
Once you get fruits home, they should be stored at room temperature in a brown paper bag for no more than a day or two.
Fruit should be soft, but not mushy and have a sweet aroma.
Berries
Berries should be smooth in texture.
Berries should be dark in color.
Berries with juice stains in the container are a good indication that they maybe crushed, which causes mold.
Berries that are overripe will have a soft and watery texture.
Cantaloupe
A ripe melon will be golden in color.
To ripen green melon store at room temperature for a couple of days.
A good indication that your melon is ripe is the aroma.
Honeydew Melon
A ripe honeydew has a soft yellow ring.
The honeydew melon should also have a mile sweet aroma when ripe.
Top Summer Vegetables - Zucchini
The zucchini is best to purchase from May to July.
Zucchinis contain vitamins A, B, C, manganese, fiber, magnesium, potassium, copper, foliate, phosphorus. omega-three fatty acids and protein.
The best zucchini, are shaped liked a cucumber with a thin skin that is green or yellow in color.
To grill zucchini, cut in half lengthwise and brush with oil and salt to grill.
