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Produce Safety: Pick, Store and Prepare

May 25, 2004

With the onset of spring and the approach of summer comes the availability of fresh produce. Handling fresh fruits and vegetables and keeping them safe can maximize your nutrition, enjoyment and health.

Keep these tips in mind when purchasing produce:

Shop at stores or produce stands that are clean and well-organized
Buy items that have no bruises or cuts, which can allow bacteria to enter the food
Choose fruits and vegetables at various stages of ripeness that can be eaten within a three-to-five-day period
Feel, squeeze, thump – make sure produce is ripe enough … but not too ripe
Does it smell like it should?
Place produce carefully in your shopping cart so it won’t bruise or split.
At home, follow the “first-in, first-out” method of storing and eating fruits and vegetables
Store all produce in a cool environment
To preserve water-soluble vitamins, wait until just before cooking or eating produce to wash it.

Produced by ADA's Public Relations Team

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