Fruit & produce
Ripeness, seasons and the small differences between one supermarket fruit and the next.
Supermarket Produce Ripeness Guide: How to Pick Good Fruit
A fast, mobile-friendly guide to picking ripe fruit. Simple checklists for watermelons, cantaloupes, peaches and avocados.
Read it GuideFall 2026 Produce Guide: Apples, Pears, Grapes & Figs in Season
What fruits are in season in fall? Compare apples, pears, grapes and figs by peak months, ripeness signs and local harvest timing.
Read it GuideApples vs. Pears: Which Fall Fruit Should You Choose?
Compare apples and pears by ripeness, storage, texture and peak fall harvest. Find the better fruit for a snack, salad or baking.
Read it GuidePeaches vs. Nectarines: How to Choose Late-Season Fruit
Compare peaches and nectarines by skin, ripeness and late-season availability. Learn what to look for when the Northern Hemisphere harvest is winding down.
Read it GuideFuyu vs. Hachiya Persimmons: How to Tell Them Apart
Compare Fuyu and Hachiya persimmons by shape, ripeness and best use. Learn which persimmon to eat crisp and which must turn soft first.
Read it GuideClementines vs. Mandarins: What Is the Difference?
Find out whether clementines and mandarins are different fruits, when their seasons overlap, and what to check when choosing easy-peel citrus.
Read it GuideCranberries vs. Pomegranates: Which Fall Fruit Should You Choose?
Compare fresh cranberries and pomegranates by flavor, prep, storage and fall season. Choose the right fruit for a sauce, snack or salad.
Read it GuideAcorn vs. Butternut Squash: Which Is Better for Your Recipe?
Compare acorn and butternut squash by shape, prep, texture and fall season. See which one to roast in halves and which to peel and cube.
Read it GuideGrapes vs. Figs: Which Late-Summer Fruit Should You Buy?
Compare grapes and fresh figs by ripeness, storage, uses and fall season. Learn which fruit keeps longer and what a ripe fig should feel like.
Read it GuideSweet Potatoes vs. Yams: What Are You Buying?
Learn why U.S. grocery-store yams are often sweet potatoes, how true yams differ, and which root to choose for your recipe.
Read it GuideKale vs. Spinach: Which Green Is Better for Your Meal?
Compare kale and spinach by texture, cooking time, storage and cool-weather season. Choose the right leafy green for salads, soups and sautés.
Read it GuideTurnips vs. Rutabagas: How to Tell These Roots Apart
Compare turnips and rutabagas by size, flavor, cooking and fall season. Learn how to choose the sweeter root and use its greens.
Read it Published UpdatedHow to Tell if a Cantaloupe Is Ripe: 4 Signs to Check
A ripe cantaloupe gives you four useful clues: a clean stem scar, raised netting, a sweet aroma and surprising weight.
Read it Published UpdatedHow to Tell if a Peach Is Ripe: Color, Feel & Aroma
Red blush varies with cultivar and growing conditions. Check background colour, gentle firmness and aroma, then choose a peach for when you plan to eat it.
Read it Published UpdatedWhich Fruits Ripen on the Counter? A Practical Ethylene Guide
Some fruits keep ripening at home. Others only get softer. Sort them before the produce drawer makes the decision for you.
Read it Published UpdatedDo Apple Lenticels Mean an Apple Is Sweet? What to Check Instead
Lenticels are real. The claim that they measure sweetness is not. Here is a better way to choose fruit.
Read it Published UpdatedPeaches vs. Apples: Calories, Fiber, Sugar & Nutrition Compared
A medium apple and peach are different-sized servings. Compare calories, fiber and sugar on both a whole-fruit and equal-weight basis, then choose for taste and use.
Read it Published UpdatedHow to Tell if an Avocado Is Ripe: Feel, Colour & Storage
A ripe avocado yields slightly. Skin colour helps with Hass, but firmness is the better test.
Read it Published UpdatedHow to Tell if a Mango Is Ripe: Feel, Aroma & Colour
A ripe mango gives slightly and smells fruity near the stem. Colour alone is not a dependable test.
Read it Published UpdatedHow to Tell if a Watermelon Is Ripe: Field Spot, Rind & More
A creamy field spot and an undamaged rind are useful clues. A watermelon will not become sweeter on the counter.
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