Keeping Your Produce Fresh

It's peak season for some of the most popular produce of summer.

We're also paying some of the highest prices ever for food.

So Money Alert Local 12's Paula Toti has some tips for picking the best produce. For peaches and plums you also don't want to put them in the refrigerator .. until they have some give and are just about ripe. They continue to ripen when you buy them ... and chilling them too early can ruin the flavor. Let's take a look at some produce before it hits store shelves. Fries brothers is one of the Tri-State's big local produce wholesalers. You can walk in off the street to buy ... but it's filled most days with grocers like John Johnson owner of Country Fresh Market.

"We're actually tasting it every day, tasting the cherries, peaches nectarines, as coming off the truck."

John says consumers are often disappointed with peaches ... his buying tip is simple.

"The first thing I'd tell people to look for is southern, Georgia or South Carolina, Southern Georgia has the reputation and grow great peaches, South Carolina actually grows most of the peaches."

He says California peaches are hit and miss because they travel too far.

Small grocers like Bob Palmisano of Newtown Farm Market says consumers will pick good produce ... if they buy from someone who picks good produce. Especially true for watermelon.

He also tries to educate customers with signs.

"Our sign says leave the homegrown Indiana cantaloupe on your counter do not refrigerate. Will pull out the flavor, different then western cantaloupe behind you."

And melons don't continue to ripen once picked.

Keep in mind with berries .. if you have the plastic like this when you buy it .. remove it. But if you have the container with the holes that's ok. And as soon as you wash it ... the fruit starts to ripen.

A big no no ... don't refrigerate tomatoes.

"You'll pull 20 percent of the flavor out of the tomato."

Do refrigerate apples and corn.