Some fruit are picked at the peak of ripeness and will taste best when eaten soon after picking like strawberries and cherries. Other fruits like pears, avocados, kiwi, bananas, and tomatoes can be picked when fully grown but firm and will ripen later.
Ripe pears and avocados should not be mushy but the surface should be able to indent if pressed.
How to ripen fruit faster: Place avocados and pears in a paper lunch bag, fold the top over and leave at room temperature on the counter. Gas will concentrate in the bag to ripen the fruit. Tip: adding an apple to the bag can help it go faster. Check the bag daily to see when fruit is ready.
