(NC) When it comes to choosing the perfect fruit or vegetable, the reality is that it’s a personal experience. Whether you’re picking out a tart apple, juicy tomato or sweet strawberry, the key is to trust your senses and explore the local produce you enjoy the most.

Still, there are some general tips and tricks you can follow. This includes checking for vibrant colours, which often signal ripeness and full flavour. And don’t forget to smell your produce too. Chances are if something smells fresh and tasty to you, it will taste the same way.

The real experts at picking fruits and vegetables are the seasonal workers who work on Ontario farms through the seasonal agricultural worker program and temporary foreign worker program. They play an integral part in ensuring we can enjoy fresh local produce year round.

Most workers arrive in March to begin helping with planting some of the earlier grown crops like asparagus. Many will stay for about eight months before returning to their home countries. The work they do here has a significant impact on their lives back home, where they use their earnings to help support their families and improve their futures.

Learn more about migrant farm workers and their importance to Ontario agriculture at morethanamigrantworker.ca.