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Please Explain: Fruits and Vegetables

Friday, May 18, 2007

On today's Please Explain, renowned food journalist Russ Parsons answers your questions about how to pick, store, and prepare the best fruits and vegetables. He's joined by farmer Jeff Bialas, who grows 80 different kinds of vegetables on his family farm in Orange County, New York. Call 212-433-9692 with your questions.

How to Pick a Peach is available for purchase at amazon.com


Comments

  • [1] David Ellertson May 18, 2007 - 01:25PM

    Are green,orange and red peppers all the same vegetable at different stages of maturity? Why are the orange and red ones so much more expensive than the green?


  • [2] Nissreen Almazouni from NJ May 18, 2007 - 01:46PM

    I want to ask your guest how to store onions. I for years struggled with them because they rotten so quickly.


  • [3] Halley from Boston, MA May 18, 2007 - 01:49PM

    How can you tell if a peach or nectarine is of the variety that is free from the pit, as compared to the kind that attaches and breaks off in a more stringy way?


  • [4] Carolyn from NYC May 18, 2007 - 01:53PM

    Why do many pears and apples rot from the inside out? When they finally appear ripe on the outside they are rotten inside.


  • [5] Michael from New York, NY May 18, 2007 - 01:53PM

    I find that I don't get enough fruits or vegetables because they spoil so quickly. What do you recommend buying that will stay good for a while?


  • [6] Kathy from Glen Cove, NY May 18, 2007 - 01:54PM

    There are a couple of websites for local produce:

    www.localharvest.org & www.theorganicpages.com.


  • [7] Chris Spain from Katonah May 18, 2007 - 01:54PM

    When you thump watermelons at the market you must remember that unless you have perfect thumping pitch, and can remember what a ripe watermelon sounds like, you should look at the watermelons that have already been cut open, and get a general sense of the ripeness of the batch. For example, if you see that the 1/4'rd watermelons are already soft, then you should modify your search and choose a melon with a higher pitched thump.


  • [8] Michael Safdiah from Fire Island Pines May 19, 2007 - 12:59PM

    Great show, but I'd add that onions, garlic if squeezed, tell you how fresh they are If you can crush one in your hand, or one feels soft, pass it up.

    Also, look around at the others in the same bin. Do they look fresh, healthy, or are they abused, and old looking?

    I'm one of those who see red when someone yanks down the top of an ear of corn. Often they have no idea what they're looking for, and they ruin it.


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