Local Mom Frustrated as Fresh Fruit Goes Bad Immediately

Tuscon woman says she can never time the ripeness of her produce just right.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Ashley Marsten, a local mom in Tucson, Arizona, expressed frustration that every time she buys fresh fruit, it goes bad as soon as she thinks it's ready to eat. Marsten said she wants her kids to eat healthy, but it's a constant struggle to keep track of what produce is ripe and what has spoiled.

Why it matters

This story highlights the common challenge many families face in trying to incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables into their diets, only to have the produce spoil before it can be consumed. It speaks to the difficulties of timing produce ripeness and the resulting food waste and financial strain on household budgets.

The details

Marsten said she gets excited when she sees the fruit she bought earlier in the week is finally ripe, only to find it has gone bad by the time she goes to prepare it. She noted the struggle of keeping a mental schedule of what produce is ready to eat and what might be past its prime. Marsten's husband, Trevor, also commented on how quickly bananas can go from green to black and inedible.

  • Marsten bought the produce earlier this week.
  • Marsten noticed the pineapple was ripe on the day her kids were due home from school.

The players

Ashley Marsten

A local mom in Tucson, Arizona who is frustrated that the fresh produce she buys often spoils before she can use it.

Trevor Marsten

Ashley Marsten's husband, who commented on how quickly bananas can go from green to inedible.

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What they’re saying

“That pineapple looks so good! I can't wait to cut it up for the kids when they get home from school. They're going to be so excited. Oh, wait. While I was talking, it went bad. Dang it! Every time.”

— Ashley Marsten

“It's crazy how that happens. But I refuse to eat a green banana.”

— Trevor Marsten

The takeaway

This story highlights the ongoing challenge many families face in trying to incorporate more fresh, healthy produce into their diets, only to have it spoil before it can be consumed. It speaks to the difficulties of timing produce ripeness and the resulting food waste and financial strain on household budgets.