| Fruit | Choose | Avoid |
| Apples | Firm texture, bright color, mature fruit | Immaturity, overripeness, bruises, shriveled skin |
| Apricots | Plump, juicy, with uniform color; fruit that yields to slight pressure | Soft, mushy fruit (overripe); pale, greenish-yellow fruit (underripe) |
| Avocados | Slightly soft, yields to gentle pressure | Dark, sunken spots; cracked or broken surface |
| Bananas | Firm, bright color, free from defects | Fruit that is bruised or discolored, dull skin |
| Blueberries | Dark blue with silvery bottom, plump, dry, free from defects | Shriveled and discolored skin; brown, soft flesh |
| Cherries | Bright color; plump, firm fruit | Soft, spongy, shriveled or discolored fruit |
| Grapefruit | Well-shaped, firm fruits; heavy for size | Soft, discolored areas |
| Grapes | Bright color, plump, firmly attached to stem | Soft, wrinkled or leaking fruit |
| Lemons | Bright color, smooth skin, heavy for size | Dull color, shriveled skin, soft spots |
| Limes | Glossy skin, heavy for size | Dull, dry skin; soft spots |
| Melons | ||
| – Cataloupe and Persian | Stemless, thick veining, yellowish rind, pleasant aroma | Soft spots, bright yellow rind |
| – Honeydew | Faint, pleasant aroma; pale yellow to creamy colored rind; slight softening at blossom end | Dead white or greenish colored rind, overly hard fruit, soft areas |
| – Watermelon | Smooth outer surface, rounded ends, bright flesh that is firm and juicy | Pale colored flesh, dry or watery flesh |
| Oranges | Bright color, heavy for size | Lightweight; dry, dull skin; soft spots |
| Peaches | Flesh that is still slightly firm or becoming soft, creamy ground color between red areas | Very firm, greenish skin, soft bruised spots |
| Pears | Firm flesh, color characteristic of variety | Very hard, immature fruit, soft or bruised spots |
| Pinapples | Pleasant aroma; slight separation of eyes; leaf easily removed from top; yellowish-orange color; plump, firm, heavy for size | Dry, dull yellowish-green skin; bruises; soft spots; unpleasant odor |
| Plums | Fairly firm to slightly soft, good color for variey | Overly hard, overly soft, brown or shriveled areas |
| Raspberries and Blackberries | Bright, uniform color; plump, tender cells | Hard; irregular color; soft leaky fruit; no stems |
| Strawberries | Bright red, firm flesh; dry; clean; cap attached | Soft, moldy, large, seedy, uncolored spots |
| Tangerines | Deep yellow-orange color, bright luster | Pale, green skin; soft or cut spots |
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