Miles Farmers Market
Color, texture, smell and overall appeal are characteristics that qualify produce as fresh and delicious. Just ask Frank Cangemi, owner of Miles Farmers Market in Solon, in business since 1972 when it opened as a produce stand. “Produce is our No. 1 item at the store — that’s how we started,” he says, noting that shopping at a reputable store that offers quality produce is the first step to finding the good stuff.
But once you’re in the market, you have to know how to discern a perfect peach from a pithy one or a sweet, ripe strawberry from one that was picked too early. Cangemi provides some pointers for picking the best produce.
Use your nose: “When produce is picked immaturely, it doesn’t have that aroma to it,” Cangemi says. So, use your smeller. You’ll be surprised to discover that some tomatoes, for example, don’t smell at all. “If it smells good, it’s probably going to taste good.”
Handle with care: Avoid damaging produce in the store. But pick it up and feel its weight, pressing gently to identify texture. “Watermelon should have a feel of life in it, not like a dead piece of wood, and that’s why you see people tapping on watermelons,” Cangemi says. Honeydew and cantaloupe should feel tacky. “Not like you are touching a piece of Formica,” he quips. With peaches, plums and nectarines, the weight of the stone fruit will indicate whether it’s juicy. “If it feels light, it’s probably pithy,” Cangemi says.
Take a look: There’s a lot to be said for color and visual appeal, Cangemi says. For example, the calyx (top) of a strawberry should be green, indicating it’s fresh-picked. “If it’s brown and wrinkly, the fruit has been hanging around for a while,” he says. And, the redder the better. Fresh corn looks plump, shiny and full, no matter the actual size of the kernel.
Buy local: “Your local produce has a better opportunity to get ripe on the vine, and you compromise some quality when you pick produce so ‘green,’ ” Cangemi says.
28560 Miles Road, Solon, 440-248-5222, milesfarmersmarket.com
