Fresh details

What's the secret to choosing good vegetables at the farmers market? Color and texture are obvious indicators for freshness. But subtler traits also are important, such as the smell of a tomato or the center of a head of lettuce. Farmers at the Carrboro Farmers Market and the State Farmers Market in Raleigh recently shared their best advice.

Squash

We pick summer squash when they're baby-sized. Look for any blemishes, bruising ... you can tell the old ones. They get soft and dark looking all over. You want a bright yellow with no blemishes.

--Michael Brinkley of Brinkley Farms in Creedmoor

Tomato

You want a tomato that's firm, not real mushy. As it ripens, it'll get softer. ... If it doesn't have any smell to it, it's pretty much not going to have much flavor.

--Charles Holeman of Flat River Nursery and Farm in Timberlake

Radishes

You want to look for green tops and firm, nice, colorful bottoms with no dirt all over them and no bug damage. ... Too much water and radishes split; not enough and they're peppery. You want it in between."

--George O'Neal of Lil'Farm in Orange County

Onions

I like a good, fresh, clear color. You can also eat the tops, so you want to get as much green color as you want to. We've been dry, so some of them have been turning a little bit pale, but they're still mighty tasty.

--Gary Murray of Sunset Farms in Burlington

Lettuce

When I go shopping for green Boston lettuce, I want good heft and a nice, well-formed center. It should almost be tight in the center. And as little insect damage as possible. ... No brown leaves. ... A good healthy head of Boston lettuce has a good shine to it, particularly in that buttery center.

--Leah Cook of Wild Hare Farm in Cedar Grove

Strawberries

You want to look for the strawberries around where they are picked from the vine. This is called your cap. You want to make sure they're green. You will be able to smell a fresh strawberry. ... Once you ... purchase your strawberries, you want to leave them in the container they come in. If it is hot in your house, you need to set them in the refrigerator.

--Kim Tart of Tart Strawberry and Produce Farm in Dunn