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Avocado: Avocados ripen off the tree, not on it. Harvest when full-sized and skin darkens (Hass: dark green to black). Test by removing the stem button — green underneath means not ready, yellow-green means close, brown means overripe. Ripen at room temperature for 3–7 days.

Mango: Smell is the best guide — a ripe mango is intensely fragrant at the stem end. Skin colour varies (yellow, red, green) by variety and is not reliable. Fruit yields to gentle pressure. The cheeks fill out and round. Harvest slightly firm for best transport; ripen at room temperature.

Papaya: Skin turns from green to yellow-orange starting at the base. Yields to gentle pressure. Sweet, floral aroma develops. Green papaya is eaten as a vegetable (unripe). Ripe fruit has orange flesh and black seeds inside.

Pitanga: Ribbed, cherry-sized fruit turns from green → orange → red → deep burgundy-purple. Sweetest and least resinous when deepest purple-black. Very soft when ripe; falls at a touch. Short shelf life — eat within 24 hours.