Now Forage

American plum: Red to yellow, about 2 cm across. Tart-sweet when ripe; flesh softens and the fruit falls readily. Good raw or cooked. Watch for early drop — often ready by mid-August.

Apple (Malus): Background skin colour shifts from green toward yellow; seeds turn brown when ripe. Fruit separates from the spur with a gentle upward twist. Aroma develops near the base. Wild Malus fruit is often small and tart — excellent for cider and jelly.

Orange: Fully orange skin (can be green-tinged in warm climates and still ripe). Heavy for its size, with a smooth, slightly glossy skin. Scratch and sniff — a sweet orange smell confirms ripeness. Navel oranges develop the distinctive navel opposite the stem.