What grade of fruit is purchased for fresh salad?

There's no official "grade" system for fruit specifically for fresh salads. However, the quality you should look for depends on how you're using the fruit:

* For salads where the fruit is the star: Choose "extra fancy" or "fancy" grade fruit. This means the fruit is blemish-free, uniformly shaped, and of good size.

* For salads where the fruit is a supporting ingredient: "No. 1" or "No. 2" grade fruits will work just fine. These grades may have minor blemishes or slight variations in size.

* For salads with chopped fruit: You can even use fruit that's "culls" (not graded), as long as it's still fresh and free of rot.

Here's a general rule of thumb:

* Look for fruits that are firm, vibrant in color, and free of bruises or soft spots.

* Smell the fruit to make sure it's fragrant and not overripe.

* If you're buying whole fruits, check for any damage to the skin.

No matter what grade you choose, the freshest fruit will always make the best salad!