Do you know what a ripe nectarine looks like at the grocery store? Not many consumers do, but that’s because it’s a bit of a trick question — they’re all ripe.
Every year, The Packer conducts itsFresh Trends survey of American consumers on their fresh produce purchase behavior. The Fresh Trends 2025 Report asked consumers two questions about picking ripe fruit:
- Do you feel comfortable selecting a ripe [fruit] for immediate consumption?
- Do you know how to ripen [fruit] once you get them home?
Consumers have trouble picking ripe nectarines
When it came to nectarines, only a quarter of respondents reported being comfortable picking a ripe, ready-to-eat nectarine. There were some demographic differences, however. For example, over a third (36%) of respondents 60 years or older said they were comfortable selecting a ripe nectarine, while only 15% of those in the youngest group (18 to 29 years) did.
When asked if they knew how to ripen a nectarine at home, only 16% of respondents said yes. The answers to this question did not show the strong age-related differences seen in the other responses. Respondents in both the oldest and youngest age groups said they knew how to home-ripen at much the same rate, 15% and 14% respectively. Respondents in the middle age group range, those aged 40 to 49 years, reported the highest home-ripening knowledge with 22% saying they knew how.
How To Tell If Nectarines Are Ripe
Selecting a ripe nectarine is a somewhat complicated matter for several reasons, one being that nectarines available at a grocery store are technically ripe.
According to the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources system, nectarines are generally tree ripened and are best harvested when they are “firm ripe.” For clingstone or canning varieties, they are usually harvested “when the fruit breaks away from the stem when picked.”
With any nectarine available at the store being ripe, customer preference then defines what people should look for.
“For example, I enjoy my nectarines firm and crisp whereas someone else may enjoy them soft and juicy,” explained Courtney Razor, director of member services and communications for the California Fresh Fruit Association. California grows functionally all of the commercially available nectarines in the U.S.
How to ripen a nectarine
If a consumer buys a nectarine that is firmer than they prefer, the fruit can be placed on the counter or in a brown paper bag to further ripen until it is softer. This can be judged by gently pressing the fruit as one might an avocado or mango.
The fact that there are different varieties of nectarines can also complicate matters with consumer confidence over ripeness. There are early- and late-season varieties, cling and freestone, and different varieties within those groups.
“Some people prefer a white nectarine to a yellow one,” Razor noted. “Unlike a banana, where a consumer can tell how ripe it is by the color of its peel, nectarines are like an apple; appearance does not change drastically throughout its shelf life.”
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