Pomona Fruit Guide

Apples - There are more than 1,400 different types of apples. The most popular are Delicious (which is easy to digest), Golden Delicious, MacIntosh, Pippin, Granny Smith and Rome Beauties. All of these types are wonderful for making fruit baskets no matter what time of year it is. Apples are high in pectin which turns to a gel in the intestine, helping to remove toxins and stimulating bowel activity. Potassium and phosphorous help flush the kidneys and calm the stomach. Apples have a natural sugar that develop acids which encourage saliva-flow and digestion.  If at all possible, try to eat wax-free apples. Wax increases shelf life but toughens the skin and tastes unpleasant.  Apples should be crisp and firm.  Always store apples loosely in the refrigerator which will increase shelf life six-fold. In a refrigerator, less tardy apples can store up to 2 months. 

CANTALOUPES The most succulent cantaloupes can be found in Caesarea, Ontario, inside Tom's refrigerator. Cantaloupes are considered the most nutritious of all fruit. The Center for Science in Public Interest compiled a list of fruits by their nutritional value. Cantaloupes came in first place, followed closely by watermelon, which were just in front of oranges. Next came strawberries, grapefruit, pineapples, tangerines and peaches. Sauntering in last place came the lowly plum.  Cantaloupes are packed with vitamins A and C. Per pound, this fruit has 15,000 I.U. of vitamin A and three times the vitamin C content of apples. It also contains myoinositol, a lipid which helps with anxiety, insomnia and in battling hardening of the arteries. Cantaloupes contain the greatest amount of digestive enzymes. Melons are recommended by the American Cancer Society as powerful agents in the fight against intestinal cancer and the all-too-common skin cancer, melanoma. One average-sized cantaloupe contains approximately 100 calories, yet is dense in nutrients. This makes melons a perfect food for weight loss. Delicious, filling and low in calories.  Melons should be purchased firm, sweet-smelling with a soft navel. During the summer, cantaloupes are cheap. To check for ripeness press firmly against the fruit with your thumb. They should give a little but not be soft. 

GRAPES  The history and tradition found in the simple grape is long and diverse. In ancient history, grapes were considered the food of the gods. They were found in the Egyptian tombs and the Bible is filled with stories about the joys and sorrows resulting from the fermented juices of this fruit. Grape production and wine-making are steeped in tradition and secrecy. They are still experimenting with new strains. There are between 40 and 50 different varieties of grapes which come in a multiple of greens, whites, reds and purples. Grapes fill the mouth with an explosion of delicious flavors. Grapes are an excellent source of potassium which encourage an alkaline blood balance and also stimulate the kidneys and regulate heart beat. The restorative power of grapes is phenomenal, cleansing the liver and removing the uric acid from the body.  Grapes are the most over-sprayed of all the fruits, therefore wash thoroughly. Always look for a faint powdery appearance, indicating blooming. A grape bunch should have a few grapes either falling off or mushy. The stems should not be shriveled, but green-looking. Grapes keep for a week in the refrigerator. Raisins are also a wonderful, healthy candy and a good source of iron.

HONEYDEWS Just like their name, when ripe, honeydews have a light green, juicy flesh with a sweet flavor.

It is a good source of vitamins A and C, potassium and zinc and excellent in digestive enzymes. 

APRICOTS  Excellent for potassium and magnesium which supplies stamina. Also a good source of iron. Only cantaloupes can rival apricots for the amount of beta carotene.  Apricots should be fairly firm, but not rock hard. Coloration should be orange with a brush of pink revealing the sweet flesh below. They will store for two to three days at room temperature and slightly longer in the refrigerator.

BANANAS  Bananas are filled with potassium which contributes to strong heart and muscles. In the class of soft fruits, they are the second-highest in mineral content only to be rivaled by strawberries.  Dehydrated banana slices are like chewy candy for the kids. Bananas are always picked green from the plantation for easier transportation. Try to buy bananas green, which will ensure that they have not been gassed in transit. Do not eat them unripe because they are difficult to digest. Bananas will ripen at room temperature in two to three days. To maximize the nutritional value within a banana, allow them to ripen with an apple in a paper bag. The apple in the bag will create ethylene, a natural gas produced by fruit specifically for ripening. The chemical reaction between the gasses being formed allows the banana to produce a high amount of potassium similar to bananas that have ripened on the tree.

PEARS  When pears are perfectly ripe—not too soft and not too firm, they are the most delicious of fruits.  They are high in thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and folic acid which help establish a healthy cardiovascular system. They are also a good source of vitamin C, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and minerals. Levulose is the fruit sugar in pears which is easily tolerated by diabetics. Pears are higher in pectin than apples, which encourages regularity. Common varieties are Bartlett, Bosc, Anjou and Comice. The sweetest and juiciest are the Bartletts with their bright yellow skin.   Look for slightly soft flesh around the stem area.

PINEAPPLES  Take a cold fresh glass of ripened pineapple juice in crushed ice. Find a quiet comfortable corner in your home and close your eyes. You will begin to hear the waves of the ocean lapping on the powdered, white shoreline of a tropical island. Above you, the gentle dance of palm leaves moved by hot tropical breezes. Add a pinch of coconut juice and you have been transformed into Robinson Crusoe, living a life of solitude in a tropical paradise. Pineapple is the taste of the sun-soaked tropics, especially if you find one that was picked in its ripened state. Pineapples are jam-packed with minerals, potassium, choline, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron and iodine. They have loads of vitamins including vitamin C and are an excellent source of bromelain, an enzyme that helps digestion. Bromelain has also been known to cure laryngitis and is soothing to the throat.  Learning how to determine a sweet pineapple may take some practice. Your pineapple ought to have a strong, sweet aroma. Look for a large plump, heavy fruit. The leaves should easily pull out. The skin should be a dark golden color. The summer is prime pineapple season because the sun is at its strongest.

CHERRIES  They are God's candies with enzymes, vitamins and minerals.

Once the pits are removed, cherries make a brain-numbing juice, fit for angels. The darker the cherries the higher in nutrition.  

Cherries will not continue to ripen after picked. Look for heavy, firm cherries with a shiny skin and fresh stem. They will store in the refrigerator for two to three days.

GRAPEFRUIT   With five times the vitamin C content of oranges, this juice is a powerful cleanser. The tastiest grapefruit is grown in Texas and Florida. Pink is sweeter and less acidic than white. Many people can tolerate grapefruit more easily than oranges. 

Look for smooth round heavy fruit with a sweet smell. Grapefruits should be slightly spongy and flat at both ends. All citrus fruits should be bought in the ripened state because the ripening process ends when they are picked. Store loosely in refrigerator.

STRAWBERRIES  They are the king of the berries. If you have ever had the pleasure of going strawberry picking, it is simply a delicious experience. You can taste the sun in the tender flesh. When strawberries are allowed to ripen on the plant, they are a high source of vitamin C but useless for shipping. They are high in potassium, sodium, and iron. Strawberries are handy if you have to endure second-hand smoke. The ellagic acid neutralizes and dissolves the carcinogen, PAH present in cigarette smoke.  Frozen with honey, they make brightly-colored Popsicles that children just love. Try to find a local farmer who grows strawberries in your area. They are usually found during early summer. Strawberries, out of season, from California are not as sweet but are still good for juicing. Always store in refrigerator in open paper bag.

TANGERINES  Tangerines are in the mandarin family. An excellent lunch box delight. Easy to peel, wonderfully sweet and highly nutritious. A small tangerine will have more usable vitamin C than a large orange. People who have a difficult time digesting oranges find tangerines more agreeable. Also an excellent source of B1. Tangerines are seasonal and can be found from November through to February. Satsuma, Kinnow and the popular Clementine are sister fruits and are delicious. Can be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator and are best eaten within a week.

 WATERMELONS  There is nothing more refreshing than a slice of watermelon on a hot day. Why, it is even better than beer— legal to eat in a public place and does not result in a nasty hangover. For £2.50, you can produce a mother-load of juice. And whereas eating the rind would be hard on the stomach, juicing it is a wonderful source of chlorophyll, vitamin A, protein, potassium, zinc, iodine, nucleic acids and enzymes that aid in digestion. Ninety-five percent of all the nutritional content of watermelon is in the rind. Thump watermelons with your knuckles and if it sounds hollow, it’s going to taste sweet. They should be dark green in color, dull, rather than shiny and their underbellies should have a pale yellow color. Store whole watermelons in a cool place.

LEMONS  Lemons are the king of citrus fruit. Because of their high source of bioflavinoids, they are powerful in detoxifying the body. They are also an excellent diuretic.  Lemon juice is an excellent addition to guacamole, salad dressings, sauces, and is a preservative, keeping the guacamole from discoloring into an unsightly brown. Skin should be smooth with no green spots which is a sign of a high acid content. Store loosely in refrigerator.

LIMES  Similar to lemons. An excellent addition to any juice or salad dressings.

MANGOS  One of the world's most popular fruit. Grown in Asia, South and Central America, Florida, California and the Caribbean. They are succulent and filled with sweet juice. The harmonious nuances of heavenly flavors cause an orchestration of singing taste buds, exclaiming the perfection of God's Creation. Move over Reeses Peanut Butter Cups! Mangos beat you by a mile!  Mango juice is an excellent addition to any fruit juices. Rich in vitamin C, some B vitamins, and beta carotene.  Mangos come in many sizes, but the largest have the most juice. They can be purchased slightly green and will ripen in a few days on the counter, turning a bright yellow. They will be soft to the touch, exhaling a sweet smell. As with all tropical fruits, mangos do not store well in the refrigerator and are best left at room temperature. Will store for two to three days on the counter.

ORANGES  Everybody loves oranges. And what is breakfast without a fresh tall glass of orange juice? Some of the highest quality oranges are grown in North America in the sunny state of Florida.   Green skin on oranges is not necessarily an indication of their being unripe. In fact, the familiar bright orange color is a result of an orange dye having been applied to the skin. Oranges in their true color are yellow and green. It would be far healthier if the consumer could grow accustomed to what would appear to be an esthetically unappetizing orange. Look for thin skin, heavy fruit, and store in the refrigerator.

PAPAYAS  A fruit that comes from the deep tropics. Expensive and hard to find because of difficulty in shipping this delicate fruit. Most of our papayas come from Hawaii. They are an oval-shaped fruit weighing less than a pound. Cut in half, the flesh is an orange hue filled with shiny, black, edible seeds. They are a good source of calcium, potassium, vitamin C and of course, the color gives it away—beta carotene. They are high in the enzyme, papain, which helps us digest protein and is used commercially to tenderize meat. .  Papaya should have some yellow color which is an indication of ripeness. Will store in the refrigerator only for a few days. Green fruit will soften when left on the counter for a day or two. Spotted papayas, somewhat like bananas, are sweeter even though they do not look pretty. Peel before juicing.