APPLE: Gala apples are excellent for both eating and baking. Native to New Zealand, this apple is now grown extensively in the United States since it"s introduction in the 1970s.Selection InformationUsage: A superb dessert apple that is excellent for fresh eating and baking. Most Galas apples are yellow-gold with pink to red stripes, while some Gala strains may be nearly solid red. Selection & Storage: Good-quality Gala apples will be firm with smooth and clean skin. The coloring will usually be yellow with red stripes, but some new strains are nearly solid red. Test the firmness of the apple by holding it in the palm of your hand. (Do not push with your thumb). It should feel solid and heavy, not soft and light. To store, keep apples as cold as possible in the refrigerator. Apples do not freeze until the temperature drops to 28.5 degrees F. Avoid: Avoid product with soft or dark spots. Also if the apple skin wrinkles when you rub your thumb across it, the apple has probably been in cold storage too long or has not been kept cool.RED DELICIOUSSelection InformationUsage: Excellent for eating fresh & salads; poor for baking. Selection: Good-quality Red Delicious apples will be firm with smooth, clean skin and have a rich red color that is sometimes streaked lightly with yellow or with a yellow cheek. Test the firmness of the apple by holding it in the palm of your hand. (Do not push with your thumb). It should feel solid and heavy, not soft and light. Avoid: Avoid product with soft or dark spots. Also if the apple skin wrinkles when you rub your thumb across it, the apple has probably been in cold storage too long or has not been kept cool.FUJI APPLEThe Japanese apple known as Fuji took the United States by storm in the 1980s. The combination is a clear winner: The color, juice and firmness of a Red Delicious and the heirloom flavor of a Ralls JanetSelection InformationUsage: Excellent for eating fresh & salads; Good for pies & sauce. Selection & Storage: Good-quality Fuji apples will be firm with smooth and clean skin. The coloring is usually yellow-green with red highlights, but will sometimes have either a pinkish blush or be nearly all red. Test the firmness of the apple by holding it in the palm of your hand. (Do not push with your thumb). It should feel solid and heavy, not soft and light. To store, keep apples as cold as possible in the refrigerator. Apples do not freeze until the temperature drops to 28.5 degrees F. Avoid: Avoid product with soft or dark spots. Also if the apple skin wrinkles when you rub your thumb across it, the apple has probably been in cold storage too long or has not been kept cool. ORANGESNavel OrangeSelection InformationUsage: Snacks, lunches, juice, salads & desserts & as glaze. Selection: Good-quality Navel oranges should be firm and heavy for their size. Select thin-skinned oranges with smooth, finely-textured skin. Navel oranges are seedless. Avoid: Avoid product with soft spots, dull and faded coloring or rough, grooved or wrinkled skin.VALENCIA ORANGESelection InformationUsage: Snacks, lunches, juice, salads & desserts & as glaze. Selection: Good-quality Navel oranges should be firm and heavy for their size. Select thin-skinned oranges with smooth, finely-textured skin. Navel oranges are seedless. Avoid: Avoid product with soft spots, dull and faded coloring or rough, grooved or wrinkled skinKIWISelection InformationUsage: Eaten raw, desserts or in fruit salads. Selection: Good-quality kiwifruit will be fairly large, smooth skinned and slightly soft to the touch when ripe. Kiwifruit that is very hard to the touch will ripen if left at room temperature. Avoid: Avoid product that is too small, has wrinkled skin or is overly soft. STRAWBERRIESSelection InformationUsage: Desserts, baking, juicing, ice cream, sorbets, pies, shortcakes, jams and jellies. Selection: Good-quality Strawberries should be firm (but not rock-hard), evenly shaped and medium to large in size. Their coloring should be even and bright red. Avoid: Avoid berries that are wrinkled, soft, spotted with mold or leaking juice. Berries with more than a touch of green or white around the caps do not ripen well after they are picked.
