Ripe carrots will be bright in color and free from brown or moldy spots. Scrub fresh carrots before slicing, then serve with a favorite dressing or vegetable dip. Those with brown spots and yellow leaves should be avoided. When refrigerated in a covered container, cauliflower will last up to 4 days. Fresh celery will be crisp and free of brown spots.
Chopped celery is an excellent addition to soup or salad.
For a quick, healthy snack, slice lengthwise and spread with peanut butter. Oranges of all types are fading from the market fast. As their season comes to an end, don't wait too long to snag the few quality citrus left. There is still a nice selection of red grapefruits, which are lovely with their pink pulp and too-tart taste. These popular soul food vegetables are best when steamed and flavored with pork.