Produce Care: Instructions for Your Produce from Space Girl Organics

Here are some tips and tricks to make your fresh produce last!   When your receive your box, consider taking a few minutes to put everything away properly to preserve that freshness and to make sure nothing goes to waste.

Vegetables
Most vegetables should be kept in the crisper drawer, which has a slightly higher humidity level than the rest of the refrigerator. Store garlic, onions and potatoes in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place away from extreme temperatures. Remove the greens off of the carrots as soon as you can to prevent them from drawing moisture away from the carrots and going limp.

If your leafy greens and lettuces wilt – they need some water! Simply place them in a bowl filled with ice water overnight and they’ll look as good as new!  If you wash and chop the lettuce when you receive it and then store it in a dishtowel in a container or bag in your crisper, it will be ready to go all week long for salads.

Fruits
Fruits ripen at room temperature and can be placed in a lightly closed paper bag with a banana to ripen faster. When ripe, refrigerate it to preserve its freshness or eat and enjoy!  Pears and other stone fruits may need some extra time to ripen. Tomatoes will taste their best when kept on the counter at room temperature. To prevent mold on berries, wash them in a mixture of 1-part vinegar and 10-parts water prior to storing. Make sure they are completely dry after washing.

How To Store Specific Fruits and Vegetables 

Tips and tricks to extend the life of your produce.

Fruit:

Apples- store on a cool counter or shelf for up to two weeks. For longer storage, keep in the fridge.

Citrus‐ store in a cool place, with good airflow, never in an air‐tight container.

Peaches(and most stone fruit)‐ refrigerate when fully ripe. Firm fruit will ripen on the counter. Organic peaches are highly prone to mold. So, It’s best to spritz them with a vinegar/ water solution (1 part vinegar, 10 parts water) when you first get them to keep them from spontaneously bursting into mold. (Peaches are one the most difficult items to grow organically for this exact reason.)

Pears- will keep on a cool counter.

Strawberries‐ do best when any packaging is removed and is placed in a paper bag in the fridge. But really- just consume these bad boys with gusto straight away because they don’t store very well.

Vegetables:

Avocados‐ keep at room temp and use when it slightly gives to the touch.  To speed up their ripening, place in a paper bag with an apple.

Broccoli‐ place in an open container in the fridge or wrap in a damp towel before placing in the fridge.

Beets- cut the tops off to keep beets firm, but be sure to keep and eat the greens!  Beets should be washed and kept in an open container in the fridge with a damp towel on top. Or unwashed in the crisper.

Beet greens‐ place in an airtight container with a little moisture.

Carrots- remove the tops to keep them fresh longer.

Cauliflower‐ will last a while in a closed container in the fridge.

Celery‐ does best when placed in a cup or bowl of shallow water on the counter. For long term storage you can wrap it in aluminum foil and keep in the fridge to stay crisp.

Corn‐ leave unhusked in an open container if you have to, but for best flavor, eat the corn soon after it is delivered to you.

Fennel‐ if used within a couple days after it’s bought fennel can be left out on the counter, upright in a cup or bowl of water.  If you want to keep it longer place it in the fridge in a closed container with a little water.

Greens‐ remove any bands, etc. and wrap in a damp cloth and then in a bag or container to keep it from drying out or in a cup of water on the counter or fridge.

Green beans‐ do best with a damp cloth draped over an open container.

Lettuce‐ wash (and spin if possible) and keep wrapped in a damp dishtowel in an airtight container or bag in the fridge.

Mushrooms- remove any packaging and keep in the fridge in a paper bag to absorb any moisture.

Potatoes‐ store in cool, dark and dry place, such as, a box in a dark corner of the pantry or in a paper bag.

Radishes‐ remove the greens (store separately) and keep them in a open container in the fridge with a wet towel placed on top.

Sweet Potatoes‐ store in a cool, dark, well‐ventilated place, but not in the fridge.

Tomatoes‐ never refrigerate. Tomatoes can stay on the counter.

Turnips- remove the greens and store the greens separate in an open container with a moist cloth.Turnips themselves can be stored in the crisper or in a cool dark place with your potatoes.