Avocado

Avocados delivered firm, which is deliberate and the only sensible way to sell them. A ripe avocado has about a day of usefulness and does not survive being moved; a firm one gives you control over when you eat it.

Two to four days on the counter and it is ready for guacamole, for toast, for a salad, or for a smoothie where it does more for the texture than a banana. If you need one today, ask and we will send the softest in the van.

The reliable ripeness test is the small stem cap: flick it off, and green underneath means ready while brown means gone. Squeezing the body tells you less and bruises the fruit for the next person.

Counter until it yields to gentle pressure at the stem end, then the fridge, which buys two or three days.

To speed it up, a paper bag with a banana. To slow a whole tray down, refrigerate them all as soon as the first one softens.

Cut halves: leave the stone in, press cling film onto the surface, and use it the next day.