“Nature does nothing uselessly.” ~ Aristotle (384 – 322 BC) Greek philosopher
Some fruits and vegetables are meant to be picked and eaten right away and others should be left on the vine or on your counter to continue the ripening process. To pick or let ripen? . . . that is the question.
With the exception of avocados, many fruits have the best flavor when picked ripe or nearly ripe. And yes, avocados are considered fruit – a berry. The following will continue to ripen and improve somewhat after picking:
* Apples
* Apricots
* Avocados (ONLY ripen after picking!)
* Bananas
* Cantaloupe
* Kiwi
* Mangoes
* Nectarines
* Papaya
* Peaches
* Pears
* Persimmons
* Plums
* Tomatoes
These items are best picked when fully ripened:
* Berries
* Cherries
* Citrus
* Cucumber
* Eggplant
* Figs
* Grapes
* Olives
* Pineapple
* Pomegranate
* Summer Squash
* Watermelon