Great Ways to Help Keep Your Produce Fresh

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics State of America’s Wasted Food & Opportunities To Make a Difference report, the average American wastes about 300 pounds of food annually, which equates to about 25 pounds per month.

- Abigail McAlister

Sometimes it can be difficult to keep produce fresh long enough to eat it, but there are some storage techniques that can help extend the life of your fresh fruits and vegetables.

Some fruits and vegetables thrive in refrigerated temperatures, while others do best at room temperature. Knowing which storage methods to use for different items will help increase their shelf life. Produce that should be refrigerated include berries, cherries, grapes, citrus fruit, celery, green beans, leafy greens, mushrooms, corn, carrots, radishes, beets, broccoli, and cauliflower. When refrigerating broccoli and cauliflower, they should be kept in separate drawers away from other produce. Berries, cherries, and grapes should not be washed until they are ready to be eaten, as they are very delicate.