True, canned can come in clutch for many of our favorite pineapple recipes, like Pineapple Pie, Pineapple Casserole, Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, and Hawaiian Pizza. But in certain drinks, desserts, and dinner recipes, nothing can compare to the vibrant, tangy, sunshine-y flavor of fresh pineapple.

When it comes time to get your fresh fix, we have great news: “Pineapples are available in the U.S. year-round due to supply from overlapping geographies,” confirms Dana Peters, a Barney, Georgia-based produce and floral field inspector at Whole Foods Market (who grew up on a small family farm). 

That said, if you’re seeking the best of the best, Edgar Cordero, pineapple farmer and general manager of Maui Gold Pineapple in Hali’imaile, Maui, Hawai‘i adds that “peak season for pineapples is generally March through July, when growing conditions in Hawai‘i, Central America, and Mexico are ideal. During these warmer months, pineapples typically reach peak ripeness, resulting in sweeter, juicier fruit on store shelves.”

You’ll find the most flavorful pieces of this tropical fruit during spring and summer. However, if you use these farmer cues for how to select the best of the bunch, you’ll be highly likely to cut into a flavorful pineapple any time of year.

Allrecipes

If only our favorite produce were like our clothing and came with tags that list detailed care instructions. Instead of “machine wash cold; lay flat to dry,” the directive might be “store in the crisper drawer; wash just prior to use.”

Alas, fresh fruits and vegetables don’t come with such helpful advice, nor can tell us how they like to be treated, so it’s up to us—as the lucky ones who get to enjoy them—to study up on how best to store them. Instructions vary widely. Some items benefit from cool storage, while others wilt in the fridge (ahem, fresh basil). A few are fine to wash in advance and store, but most last the longest when you skip the washing until you’re ready to savor the fruits (or vegetables) of your labor.

Since we’re in the heart of fresh tomato season, which spans May to October in most parts of the U.S., we thought it was high time to brush up on how to store tomatoes. This time, we decided to go directly to the source: the people who grow them. Here’s what three farmers had to say.