CORN

No other vegetable tells me that summer has arrived better than freshly picked corn.

How to pick: Hold the corn from the bottom of the ear and feel how well the kernals are developed along the way to the top of the ear. A ripe corn should have a feel of uniformity across the length of the ear and roundness on the top to indicate developed kernals.

How to store: Corn loses its sweetness quickly, so it is best to prepare corn on the same day you pick them up, in order to capture the full intensity of its sugars. However, if you are not ready to use them, wrap the ears in plastic to prevent them from drying, and store them in your refrigerator's crisper up to 3 days.

How to prepare: Best steamed, grilled and sauteed.