Tips From Our Buyers

Produce can vary in size considerably, so when paying per item pay attention to the size. Shop in season produce for the best quality and value

Fruit World always selects the largest, freshest, highest grade produce.

When buying by the bag, check how many grams are in each bag. You may think you’ve “bagged yourself a bargain” - but in reality you could be paying the same or more. 

Avocados   

If the avocado yields to firm gentle pressure you know it’s ripe and ready-to-eat. Ripe, ready to eat avocados may have a darker colour but colour can vary so it is best to go by feel as well as colour. It will feel lightly soft but it will not feel ‘mushy’ to the touch. Ripe fruit is perfect for that day, but is best stored in the refrigerator if you plan to eat it in a day or two to prevent the fruit from becoming overripe or spoiled.

Bananas     

As yellowness increases so do the sugar levels within the bananas.  A tinge of green is the best time to buy. The more green in colour, the starchier the flavour. Ecuadorian bananas seem to be better in quality and flavour over other bananas. 

Grapes       

Size equals flavour when it comes to buying grapes.  Look for firm tight grape skins, with no wrinkling and fresh looking vine stems. Green grapes will start to turn a slight brown as their sugar levels increase.

Pineapples 

We believe Philippine Pineapples such as Dole are the best in terms of flavour. Size equals value with pineapples, so we only stock the largest sized pineapples available. Look for fruit with green tinges and no brown soft spots to it. As it darkens up slightly, the pineapple will be ready to eat.

Mandarins  

Varieties change constantly, but always look for firm skins with no soft glassy spots or puncture marks from the tree stem.  Larger fruit will give a better eating experience.

Lettuce       

When buying lettuce, look for a large, tight head.  Importantly, make sure the base looks freshly trimmed and leaves are fresh and green.

Beans

Select beans which are straight as possible.  There should be no brownish rust marks on the surface of the bean, and it should be firm - not super flexible.

Blueberries 

Big is good, when it comes to blueberries!  The flavour is more intense, which in turn makes for a better eating experience.  Watch out for berries that appear soft or have juice inside the punnett.

Broccoli

Large heads give the best value for money.  They should be green with no brown tinge or signs of flowering.  The base must look fresh, and the darker green the better.

Strawberries

When it comes to strawberries think ‘triple S’ - Shoulder, Size and Surface!  Look for a streak of white around the shoulder. The bigger the strawberry the better, as it’s had time to reach full maturity which means maximum flavour.  Keep an eye out for surface imperfections, as this could be due to rain damage.