Now Forage

Kumquat: Deep orange-gold; eaten whole — the sweet rind offsets the tart flesh. Ripe when uniformly orange, slightly soft, and very fragrant. The entire fruit is edible raw.

Lemon (Citrus): Uniformly yellow skin; heavy for its size. Can stay on the tree for months once yellow. Scratch the skin — a strong lemon scent confirms ripeness.

Orange (Citrus): Fully orange and heavy for its size. Skin yields slightly when squeezed. Fruit will hang on the tree well past colour development without falling — taste-test for sweetness.

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.

Passionfruit: Purple varieties: skin wrinkles and turns deep purple. Yellow varieties: fully yellow and slightly heavy. Both are ripe when they fall freely. Wrinkled skin indicates riper, more aromatic flesh — not deterioration.