Guidelines for Buying Fresh Fruit "Fresh fruits are available in fairly good supply in our stores through most of the year, but quality is usually higher and prices more reasonable if you make it a point to buy a particular fruit in its most abundant season." Buying fruit when it is in season is always best. You want to get produce at it's peak for optimum flavor and quality. The USDA has a Seasonal Produce Guide. Our Almanac even suggests reading the newspaper for clues to see when fruits will be available in which season. Here are some tips on buying fresh fruits: Low Prices Low prices means that the item is in abundance. Don't go too crazy when prices drop! You could end up throwing out food you didn't eat. So don't waste your money when the sales come. Don't Buy by Size Alone Large-sized fruit doesn't really meant that it is the best quality. Select fruit that is best suited for your needs. Appearances can b...