My mom was skilled at choosing the best fruits from the grocery store. Every time she would meticulously pick, prod, and even taste before making her selections. As a kid, it was like she was a general in the Army, picking apart her troops at a daily inspection. Although she was more like a drill sergeant to me, childhood stories aside, you might not have received the schooling I did. I’m gonna help all you confused little fruit stand buyers.

Seasons Matter

Now I know some people might say it doesn’t matter what season it is when you buy fruit because they’ll just import it from somewhere where they are in season. I call hogwash. Almost every supermarket I have gone to that sells fruit not in season, sells fruit not worth buying. So, please, don’t buy them.

You have seasons where fruits are in an abundance. Summer is when you can buy most of your melons. Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, and various other types of melons are ripe at that time of year. Strawberries, peaches, kiwis, blackberries, blueberries, and nectarines are fruits that are abundant during the warm months of the year.

Fall is a slim picking time of the year, especially for fruit harvested in North America. Apples are about the only ones except for grapes which are ripe late in the summer to the early fall.

Winter is another  fruitful season. Surprising right? Yes, the cold months of the year also provide juicy, sweet morsels. Winter is citrus time. Think lemons, limes, grapefruits, oranges, mandarins, and more. As a Californian, I can confirm the weather is perfect for these to become a reality.

Finally, we have spring. Spring is a beautiful time when plants come alive. Some trees start work extra early to give us some treats. When did you last do that for someone? Cherries, pears, and apricots are the best picks for this time.

May I suggest you go hug your local fruit tree today?