A clingstone peach. Photo courtesy
Washington State Fruit Commission.

• Aroma: The peach should smell sweet and perfumey.
• Appearance: The skin should be bruise-free and covered with an even, downy fuzz
• Handle With Care: Peaches are a very delicate fruit. Even if they feel hard, place them on top of all the other groceries in the bag to protect them from blemishes.To speed up the ripening of peaches, use the apple/banana trick in the avocado post below.

  Read the history of peaches: They originated in China.

• Find more of our favorite fruits in our Gourmet Fruits Section.
• Want to cook with peaches? Use the search box at the top of the page (to the right of the red bar) to search for “peach recipe.” You’ll find everything from peach salsa to peach muffins.

To speed ripening, place the avocado(s) in a lightly-closed paper bag with two or three apples or bananas. The ethylene gas naturally released by apples and bananas will speed the ripening of other fruits.

How often have you squeezed an avocado to determine if it’s ripe?

Here’s another option: Try to dislodge the stem nub with your fingernail. If it loosens easily, the avocado is ready to eat.

• If you’re using the avocado for a salad or as garnish, you’ll want it just ripe enough to keep its form when sliced or cubed.
• If you’re making guacamole, avocado dip, sauce or other soft food, you can let it ripen for another day or two.
• If you have too many ripe avocados, stick them in the fridge.

Photo courtesy California Department of Education.

Turn ripe peaches into peach lemonade.
Photo by Gerhard Taatgen Jr. | SXC.

We’re on a lemonade kick. Yesterday we came back from the farmers market with ripe peaches and made a delicious pitcher of Peach Raspberry Lemonade. Per person, you’ll need:

Ingredients

 
Preparation

1. Purée peaches in a blender.

2. Muddle peach purée, raspberries, lemon juice and sweetener in a collins glass or water glass.

3. Fill the glass with ice water. You can use tap water and ice cubes, but the ice dilutes the drink. Plan in advance and freeze plain lemonade in ice cube trays.

4. Stir, garnish with lemon wedge and serve.

To make a whole pitcher of lemonade, multiply the ingredients by the number of people you want to serve, muddle the ingredients in the pitcher, add ice water and optional extra ice cubes. Stir well to blend.

Don’t over-sweeten this drink: Let the fresh peach flavor shine through.

Find more of our favorite drinks plus recipes in our Beverages Section.