Always look for the Pick Tennessee Products logo! It’s your guarantee that the product you purchase is as fresh and local as it gets!
Buy sweet corn early in the morning. Sugar converts to starch as the freshly picked corn sits unrefrigerated during the day. The sweetest corn should be purchased early and promptly refrigerated. Corn with little “dents” in the middle of the kernels is over-mature.
Store tomatoes with the stem end up, as it grows on the vine. The shoulders are the most tender part and bruise easily! Tomatoes will continue to ripen some after picking, so don’t worry about a little green at the top. Never store tomatoes in the refrigerator, as they will quickly lose their flavor.
Bring a cooler along for your trip to keep produce items cold on the trip home. This is especially important as summer temperatures heat up.
Go green at the farmers market and bring your own shopping bags! It saves the farmer money and helps the environment, too.
Your nose knows the best cantaloupe. Sniff the stem end. It should have a distinctive melon aroma.
Check the bottom of the container when purchasing blackberries or raspberries. It should not be stained or moist. Berries do not ripen at all after picking, so look for berries that are full and plump. Don’t wash berries until you are ready to use them; the best way to keep them is in a single layer on a baking sheet. Try to use berries within three or four days of buying them.
Want to make apple butter? Then purchase a variety of different apples. It gives extra flavor to the finished product!
Winter squash varieties keep well if stored in a cool, dry place. Look for those with no cuts in the skin or soft spots.
Always purchase clean produce that looks as fresh as possible. Don’t be shy about asking about use and varieties.
Don’t overlook freshly baked goods such as breads, pastries, pies and cakes, and stock up on locally produced jams, jellies, marmalades, preserves and sauces. Buying local is delicious!
Cucumbers should be completely green on the outer skin. They begin to turn yellow as they age.
Eggplant should be shiny and heavy for the size. If wrinkled, pass it by!
Remember that hard shelled squash varieties are not only great fall decorating items, but are edible! If too hard to cut in half, bake it whole at 350 degrees until tender, then it slices easily.
Although we typically think of farmers markets as a shopping place for produce, don’t forget about farm direct meats! Country ham, bacon and smoked sausage are an exceptional value.
Dried fruit is a naturally sweet, easy to store purchase with a long shelf life thanks to the removal of moisture. Look for dried peaches, apples and even cherries—or buy lots of them fresh and dry them yourself! It’s easy to do.
Without honeybees, we wouldn’t be blessed with the loads of produce you see at the market. Local honey is a great product thought to help with allergies.
Root vegetables such as beets, carrots and turnips should have the tops removed as soon as you get home. The tops pull moisture from the roots, shortening the shelf life.
Peaches, apricots and nectarines will continue to ripen after picking. Buy them at various stages of ripeness so you don’t have to quickly use all of your bounty at once.
Fresh herbs enliven any meal. If you purchase the plants, pay close attention to the sun requirements. If you purchase them already cut, treat as you would flowers and stand in a vase with a little water.
Be careful if you handle too many hot peppers at the market. Wash your hands promptly and avoid touching your eyes.
Freeze berries, of all kinds by laying them carefully on a baking sheet and placing the sheet in the freezer. Once they’re frozen, then bag them up in freezers bags. That way, they’ll pour out easily instead of freezing Into a hard lump.
Strawberries do not continue to ripen after harvest, so make sure you select those that are completely red all the way to the cap.
Heirloom tomatoes have unique flavors and colors. Don’t hesitate to ask the retailer about the differences. Most will also give you a taste!
Okra should be no longer than 5 inches to taste best. Long, large okra will be tough, so go small. Never wash okra until you’re ready to use it, or it will become slimy.
Pick Tennessee Products is presented by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Market Development Division.