Don’t shuck the whole ear before buying, though; it makes the farmers really cranky. Extra tipsBesides the familiar “tree” broccoli, also look for broccolini (sometimes called “baby broccoli”), broccoli rabe and Chinese broccoli (gai lan). That’s because although greens can be found in grocery stores year round, they’re truly in season in the late fall and late spring, between March and June and the again October through December. Extra tipsWant an easy side dish? All of them have fairly crisp, ridged stems and thick, fleshy leaves that are, frankly, unpleasant raw but become absolutely wonderful when cooked.Chard recipes », When is chard in season?January — April. If you’re buying shucked beans, make sure none have soft spots or discoloration. These are general guidelines! Extra tipsCherries are also closely related to almonds; if you want to beef up the flavor of cherries in a dish, add just a drop or two of almond extract. They should be firm and free of nicks and cuts. Extra tipsWant to look like a genius cook? Fuyus are crisp enough that they can be sliced into salads. How to store mandarins?Because the skin is so thin, mandarin is one citrus fruit that needs to be refrigerated, tightly sealed in a plastic bag. Extra tipsIf you’re unfamiliar with Asian pears, know that they are sometimes referred to as “apple-pears,” which is a perfectly good summation of their qualities. Extra tipsMost cucumbers don’t need to be peeled, but if the skin feels particularly thick, or if they’ve been waxed, then you should. Extra tipsUse thin asparagus as an ingredient in pastas and risottos. But that’s always a gamble, and even with fruit that’s advertised as being seedless you’ll find the occasional pip. Their colors — red and yellow, even purple and brown — are so saturated they seem to have been designed for the painterly golden light at this time of year. Print this month's shopping list of fresh Florida fruits and vegetables and look for them in your grocery store. They are fine, but the ones picked in September and October from the hilly orchards of Lake and Mendocino counties are much better.Pears recipes », When are pears in season?August — October. Seasonal produce in your area will vary by growing conditions and weather. There should be no soft spots or signs of discoloring. You can do this either on a cookie sheet in a 400-degree oven, or in a dry skillet on top of the stove. How to choose broccoli?Choose broccoli with flower heads that are tightly closed and blue-green, rather than pale green or even yellow. How to store passion fruit?Store ripe passion fruit in the refrigerator tightly sealed in a plastic bag. Take a look at passion fruit and you wonder who could have thought up that name? Extra tipsTo prepare winter squash, cut them in half and remove the seeds. How to choose beets?Select beets that are heavy for their size and show no surface nicks or cuts. And remember, passion fruit will continue to ripen if left at room temperature. These are troublesome to grow, but their flavor and texture is unrivaled. Russet varieties should be deep golden brown; smooth-skinned round fruit should be yellow, not green, and smooth-skinned pear-shaped fruit will be pale green. Beside above, which fruits are in season? Extra tipsFor a real treat, late in the season look for Thompson Seedless — the predominant California variety — that have begun to turn golden. How to choose root vegetables?Select root vegetables that are firm, with no soft spots or discoloration. Extra tipsWhile varietal distinctions in most fruit have been smoothed over, they’re still terribly important with apples. How to store radishes?Store radishes in a plastic bag in the refrigerator, removing the tops if you’re not going to use them right away. 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