Picking the best fruit can be a little tricky

"You've got to go out on a limb sometimes, because that's where the fruit is." — Will Rogers

Fruit. Say it with me, "Fruit." Amazing how the word can summon a rush of juices in the mouth or a spine-tingling wave and a rush of childhood memories. There is nothing as exquisite as walking out the back door and picking a faultlessly ripened peach, apple or a handful of cherries to eat. However, picking the best fruit can be a bit tricky.

What to buy?

First decide which fruit you and your family like. The old stand-bys like apples, oranges and bananas are always reliable, but that shouldn't dissuade you from going after those exotic fruits. Take a chance and try a mango! Look for full-colored, unblemished and firm mangos. It will either be over-ripe or under. Your best bet is to go with the under-ripened mango and take it home to sit at room temperature for two-three days. This process will simulate nature's ripening process. Do not put unripened fruit into the refrigerator. Temperatures at the "killing zone" (35-50 F.) will destroy the ripening process.

You may be surprised at how quickly a ripe pineapple gets devoured once it's brought home from the store, washed and cut into bite-size chunks. Even better, add a bowl of fresh vanilla yogurt and enjoy a perfect healthy midnight snack. (A pineapple worthy of choosing has fresh green leaves, is slightly firm, and smells sweet.)

Where to buy?

Once you have a list of top candidates, decide where your options are to get the freshest fruit. The produce section at your supermarket is designed to offer a wide variety of domestic fruits at fair prices, but they are not able to offer fruits at the level of what I call absolute quality. Absolute quality refers to the overall excellence of a product, i.e. the product's pedigree, its grower's commitment to safe agriculture techniques, proper cleanliness upon harvest, delivery and transport conditions. Ask yourself these questions — Do I know where this product comes from? Do I know which pesticides it might contain?

Chances are good that most of the fruit in grocery stores have been picked before their peak to allow a period for ripening while in transport as well as to protect them from serious blemish. This can eliminate the fruit's natural ability to ripen. Does this mean that you shouldn't buy supermarket produce? No. Much of the fruit there is more than suitable, but be aware that the fruit didn't just come off the branches of local orchards.

My favorite place to buy fruit is at a farmer's market. If the farmer's market is not an option, look for smaller fruit wholesalers.