Clementines (small crate)

[uwsgrazer]

I love clementines when they're nice and sweet. I bought a pack at Fairway last year that were terrible - dried out and tasteless. I know fruit can be hit or miss but does anyone have suggestions where the odds would be in my favor? Whole Foods seemed to have attractive ones a few weeks ago when I was shopping. Do they stock good produce? I'd like to pick up a couple of containers for Thanksgiving

[windycity]

The fruit stands in Chinatown as well as the supermarkets there have good prices. You need to sniff the crates to see if they are sweet though.

[cimui]

I really don't know if any single store always has good clementines. Wherever you buy, I'd sneak a few out of the netting and heft them in your hand to test for density and feel the skin for looseness (ripeness). Places like Westside Market, Fairway and Barzini's don't seem to mind too much if you smell / feel the fruit ahead of time.

For the record, I haven't had great luck with Fresh Direct clementines. (They've been underripe like a lot of their fruit.) But I'm sure it's luck of the draw. I've also had back luck with them at Manhattan Fruit and Vegetable Exchange, probably because they're kept so cold.

[uwsgrazer]

Sensible advice, cimui - thank you. But just to confirm, some looseness between the skin and the fruit is desirable, right?

[cimui]

Yeah, I think some looseness is good if the clementines are also nice and dense; you don't want looseness because the clementine is completely dessicated.

[chachalicious]

Try the Clementine "Cuties" in the net bag at Fairway. Just bought 2 bags and they are as sweet and juicy as can be.

[smokeandapancake]

honestly, i SWEAR by the crates of clementines from fresh direct. NEVER had a bad one..never...you wont be dissapointed.

[uwsgrazer]

Amazing. I never would have guessed. All the fruit I've bought there tasted like plastic. Go figure.

[princeofpork]

In Gristedes these are 9.99 a crate. In Queens at my parents house they are 3.99. Just not worth it.

[smokeandapancake]

you can also try TJ's