Apples should smell fresh and their stems should be intact. They should have firm, shiny, and smooth skin. Avoid apples with bruises.
Pick berries that are firm. Avoid bruised, damaged, or leaking berries.
Choose a cantaloupe that is fragrant and that has a cream or yellowish undertone between the netting (the pattern on the outside skin).
Look for large, firm, bright, shiny cherries. Make sure stems are nice and green.
Sweet cherries should be a darker red or yellow and larger than sour cherries.
Select firm, plump, smooth, and crisp fruit. Grapes that are firmly attached to the stem are fresh.
Choose fruit that gives a little to the touch, like an avocado or peach.
Look for firm, fuzzy peaches that yield to gentle pressure. Inspect at the bottom of a peach for its color. Chose yellow peaches. Avoid blemished peaches.
Chose pears that are firm. Check the "neck" for ripeness by gently applying pressure to the narrow end of pear with your thumb. If it yields to pressure, then its ready to eat.
Choose plums that are slightly soft when gently pressed with your thumb.
Look for slightly soft and plump berries that are deep in color. Avoid soft or mushy raspberries.
Look for bright red, shiny strawberries that are firm. The caps should be attached and green.
Look for a yellowish spot where the watermelon rested on the ground. Pick a symmetrical melon that seems heavy for its size.