Look for tomatoes with a deep, rich red color. A ripe tomato shouldn’t have wrinkles, cracks or bruises and should yield to light pressure.
Storage
Tomatoes should never be stored in the refrigerator, as this can affect the flavor and texture. Store at room temperature out of direct sunlight and use within 1 week of peak ripeness.
Did you know?
According to the USDA, the average American eats 22 pounds of tomatoes each year!
There are over 7,500 varieties of tomatoes.
The tomato is both the official state fruit and official state vegetable of Arkansas
Corn
Look for husks with a good green color and pale colored silk. Gently pull the top of the husk away. If the kernels are discolored or dented, that means the corn is not fresh.
Storage
Keep unhusked corn in the refrigerator. If you husk the corn, place in storage bags before refrigerating.
Did you know?
The average ear of corn has 800 kernels, arranged in 16 rows.
There is one strand of silk for each kernel of corn.
Every ear of corn has an even number of rows.
Pepper
Look for firm peppers with smooth skin and a fairly even shape. The pepper’s coloring should be uniform, with no blemishes, soft spots or wrinkles.
Storage
Store green peppers in the produce drawer of your refrigerator for 5-7 days. Peppers can be stored in the freezer (whole or sliced) for up to a month.
Did you know?
Green bell peppers have twice the vitamin C of an orange, while red and yellow peppers have 4 times as much!
All bell peppers start off green and slowly turn yellow, and then red. As peppers ripen, they become sweeter.
The pepper is a fruit, but is considered a vegetable in cooking.
