Gallery • 3 Photos

Kaitlyn Wang

The photos show the different varieties of apples and how each fits somebody's needs.

After a long day of shopping, to your delight, you are met with a stand filled with mouthwatering, sweet peaches. Biting into it, you are immediately met with sweet juices, satisfying your unwavering hunger. This year, everyone can experience their favorite scene in The Summer I Turned Pretty by following important protocols to guarantee picking the best of the bunch when it comes to fruits.

Watermelon is the ultimate summer treat that is rich in Vitamins A and C, Potassium, Magnesium, and promotes hydration. When picking out a watermelon, individuals must follow key rules to ensure they select the right one. People should look for a watermelon with a dull/waxy skin and full ends resembling a large grape (Seriouseats.com). These are key signs that the watermelon is ripe and ready to eat. Additionally, consumers should purchase a watermelon with a yellow spot with webbing on the skin, and should avoid ones with white spots. When lightly tapping the melon, it should sound like a basketball bouncing, while also giving some rebound. Shoppers should also look for a shriveled-up stem, because it indicates that the watermelon ripened and naturally fell off on its own. A final tip for watermelon fans is to purchase them around the spring and summer seasons. 

Bananas are considered to be one of the best fruits for athletes, and according to Shreya Patel (9), a member of Yorba Linda High School’s Women’s Basketball Team, “Bananas have had a tremendous impact on my performance during games and practices by boosting my endurance and speeding up the recovery”. When looking, a good banana should have a firm, plump, and full appearance. If you are looking to eat it immediately, be on the lookout for an all-yellow body with a couple of brown spots on the peel. If planning to eat the bananas within the span of the week, consumers should look for bananas with a yellow body with green tips, so that the banana has time to ripen without going bad. Another sign people should look out for is a gray hue on the exterior.  This is a clear sign that the banana has been stored in the wrong temperature environment, and would not be pleasant to eat (Thekitchn.com). 

Mangos are unlike other fruits; they are determined based on feel rather than visual presentation. Similar to avocados and peaches, mangos get softer as they ripen; therefore, the perfect time to pick them is when they are somewhat firm. Another sign that the mango is ripe is when people can smell a sweet aroma from the mango’s stem (Mango.org). Lastly, the best time to select these fruits is during late spring and early fall, or June and September.

Next, the cantaloupe is often overlooked, yet it is one of the most refreshing fruits to indulge in during the warmer seasons. The process of finding the right cantaloupe is very similar to that of selecting a watermelon. The fruit should possess a golden yellow color, instead of a green hue, and should have a rougher exterior rather than a smooth skin.  When smelling the soft flower end, people should look for a sweet scent because only ripe cantaloupes possess this feature (Westerngardens.com). Furthermore, when applying pressure to the cantaloupe, it should spring back similarly and create the same noise as the watermelon. 

Lastly, apples have been one of the most well-known fruits for centuries due to their great deal of health benefits. Although they are one of the most loved fruits, people are still unaware of how to distinguish a perfect apple from the rest in the bunch. Apples are a fruit that comes down to preference. Rather, the sourness of the apple or the purpose it is being used for, it is more complex to define an ideal apple. One main sign that can be used across all variations of apples is the exterior of it. When viewing, specks and scuffs on the skin do not affect the overall taste; however, people should avoid any apples with signs of deep bruises or decay. If individuals are looking for a sweeter apple, finding one with a vibrant exterior would be advised, since it shows that the apple has been exposed to the sun for longer (Stemilt.com).

For years, people have struggled and tried various techniques to determine the perfect fruit. However, according to Insiya Harianawala’s (9) statement, “with these new methods, picking the perfect fruit will become more convenient and ensure I will have success when choosing the best option”.