Organic Fresh Zucchini Squash by RawJoy Farms

My Background & Expectations Just to set the stage, I grew up out in the country helping family and friends harvest crops like corn, tobacco, beans, and cabbages. I know what fresh, quality produce is supposed to look and feel like. On top of that, zucchini is at the very top of my vegetable list alongside Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and asparagus—it is something I make a strong effort to purchase and eat regularly. ​I ordered this organic fresh zucchini from the same Amazon merchant that sent me a completely rotten batch of chives. I was hoping for a better experience, but unfortunately, these fell short again. ​The Condition When you buy organic zucchini from places like Joe's Market, Frank's Nursery, The Fresh Market, Whole Foods, or even Kroger, you expect them to be a bit smaller than conventional ones. However, the ones I received in this order were nowhere near even those standards—they were incredibly small. ​Worse than the size was the physical condition. Each zucchini was flimsy, extremely soft, and badly bruised. They felt slightly dehydrated, as if they had been sitting in a box for an extended period of time. Honestly, they looked and felt like the old, flaky rejects that were tossed in the back corner of a bin, only to be pulled out and shipped to me anyway. ​The Saving Grace The only reason I am giving this 2.5 stars instead of a flat 1-star is because the insides actually survived. Despite how abused they looked on the outside, I was still able to cut them open and use them. The interior wasn't too bad, and they still retained some decent flavor. ​The Verdict They didn't taste terrible, but they were nowhere near the freshest zucchini I’ve had. When a company advertises farm-fresh, organic produce, it shouldn't arrive limp and bruised. I’m disappointed by how poorly these were handled, and I doubt I will be ordering fresh produce from this merchant again.