The Color Tells Great Story 

The ripeness of a vegetable or fruit is usually indicated by its color. The more pigmented the product, the riper it is. While this may only cut across some of the Burlington, Vermont, farmers' market products, it represents a wide selection of all greens and fruits. 

Therefore, when shopping at the market, check the color of the fruit depending on what you want in your shopping bucket. Although a number of patrons will go for a ripe vegetable, others do bulky shopping for long-term family use. 

Therefore, if you are shopping for the long term, you don't need your bucket filled with all ripe greens because they have a limited lifespan. However, you want to ensure that the greens are mature and will maintain your experience. 

Plus, the color will indicate how long the product you are considering has spent in the sun and, thus, how long its sugar has had time to develop. For instance, the pumpkin patch Williston, VT, is vibrant orange when ripe. Therefore, depending on your priorities and preferences, consider color when shopping.

Check for Wilting Signs

While some things are hard to tell from a look, a wilting vegetable is not one of them. And you don't have to be an expert to tell wilting greens from fresh ones. Puckering, wrinkling, and wilting are the apparent signs of a piece of produce produced long ago before being taken to the farmer's market Burlington, VT. Or perhaps the trader has overstayed with it at the store. 

Yet, it's undeniable that extremely hot conditions due to the scorching summer sun could also make some pieces of produce appear puckering. But picking the freshest produce if you are looking for one should be manageable. Look for the piece that weathers the elements unscathed, indicating the duration between harvesting and market. 

Request for a Squeeze 

While you might fail to judge the texture of the plum you want to purchase, you can meet some friendly farmers' market work to depress it for you. You will notice that a ripe fruit will yield slightly under little pressure. But tomatoes should be firm, so you don't need to bruise them. 



Suppose you are still determining how a piece of ripened produce should feel. In that case, ask the worker so you are sure you are purchasing the right product. The good news about the market workers is that they are professionals, so you can expect them to be friendly and seamlessly help you when necessary.

Take a Taste Test If Allowed 

If you find a farmers’ market allowing you to take a bite to confirm your doubts, capitalize on that to verify your produce. Our expert particularly identified that the top fruits to taste include stone fruit, tomatoes, and melons since judging by the eye could be daunting.

To pick the best, get up close and personal, she suggests. She employs her super-high-tech methods—spotting, sniffing, and squeezing—to find and keep winning fruits and vegetables for our food photo shoots and recipe development in the test kitchen. Before we get specific advice for different fruits and vegetables, starting with summer and working through the other seasons, here's one more piece of advice from Riley: Don't forget to bring your tote bags. That's a farmers' market (or standard grocery store) shopping tip that she and all our food editors endorse.(1)

Consider Visible Signs of Ripe Melon

Purchasing a ripe melon can be a messy endeavor under normal circumstances. Now you want to pick the right melon without smelling or touching it. Of course, as a typical buyer, smelling a cantaloupe might not give you vital information to choose one over another. 

This may be the time to ensure trust in what your farmer is judging. Why not? But wait. Still, there are a few things you can consider to tell a ripe melon without touching it. Experts reveal that a ripe melon doesn't show any sign of green on the outer rind. They also produce a fragrant smell,



Besides, the creamy yellow field spot of melons of all varieties, sizes, and shapes tells more about the time they have to spend in the sun to ripe to sweetness.

Ask Market Experts

This is the moment you want to allow experts to shine; after all, you want to take the best piece of produce at home. Ask for recommendations from the vendors and experts in the market. Admit that you don't know because it's worth the sacrifice, if at all. 



Asking for recommendations may allow you to experiment with the best in the year's calendar. You want to take chances on what you have never tested, which could work well with your shopping experiences.

Conclusion 

If you want to eat locally grown, fresh produce, shopping at the Burlington, VT, farmers market is your best bet. But the secret to getting your best deal without touching the items depends on a blend of numerous factors worth knowing before shopping. 

Yet, with a wide selection of options and certain lesser-known vegetable and fruit varieties, the market can be increasingly overwhelming. You might end up with a bucket of unrelated items; half go bad in the crisper. Thus, knowing your season is critical to getting the things you need.