Picking Your Produce | WATERMELON & PINAPPLE

Picking A Ripe Watermelon

When picking a ripe watermelon, you can look for these signs:

Weight: A ripe watermelon will feel heavy for its size because it's full of water. Compare watermelons of similar size and choose the heaviest one. As watermelons age, they lose water weight and become dry and mealy.

Ground Spot: Look for a creamy or buttery yellow spot on the bottom of the watermelon, also known as the "field spot". This indicates that the watermelon ripened on the vine and the more yellow the spot is, the riper it is. If the underside is white or green, it was probably picked too early.

Sound: Gently tap the watermelon and listen to the sound it makes. If the pitch is deep and hollow, the watermelon has more water and is likely riper. A higher-pitched, denser sound may mean the rind is too thick and the fruit isn't fully ripe.

Color: A ripe watermelon is dark and matte in color, not shiny. Avoid watermelons with cuts, dents, soft spots, or bruises.

Picking a Ripe Pineapple

When picking a ripe pineapple, you can check its smell, look, and feel:

Smell: A ripe pineapple should smell sweet and fruity at its base, not fermented or sour. If it has no smell, it's probably unripe.

Look: The pineapple should have some yellow, greenish yellow, or light brown patches, especially at the base. The skin should be shiny, not dull.

Feel: The pineapple should feel heavy and firm, but give slightly when squeezed. If it's too hard, it's probably underripe, and if it's too soft and mushy, it's probably overripe.

Pull: Gently tug on one of the large leaves, or fronds, at the top of the pineapple. If it comes out easily, the pineapple is ripe.