How can I tell if produce (i.e. a tomato) ripened naturally or was forced to ripen by artificial means?
Generally, out of season produce is artificially ripened by the gas ethylene. So buying tomatoes out of season is a good determinant that they were ripened artificially. Tomatoes are warm-season perennials which means they are in season during warm weather.
If you buy organic tomatoes, that means the were grown naturally without any foreign pesticides or gases to ripen them. If you are really concerned about artificially grown and ripened tomatoes, spend the extra money and go organic. Great places to get deals on organic tomatoes are in farmer’s markets. Otherwise, make friends with the produce guy at your local market.
In summary: to play it safe, buy organic!
