How to stop wasting spring’s best produce...

BECKY KRYSTAL

SPRING arguably the best season for produce; it produces some of the most colourful and flavourful fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, summer is also the worst season for the havoc it can wreak on all that beautiful produce you just brought home from the farmers market or grocery store. Water loss is problematic for those juicy berries, stone fruit and water-heavy staples such as courgette and cucumbers, says Jeffrey Brecht, professor of horticultural sciences at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

In general, you want to keep your produce cool. That means shopping at the farmers market as early in the day as possible. Brecht says, avoid putting your food in the boot of your car.

Berries

To stave off decay, keep your berries in the crisper drawer, where it’s cold and they’re less likely to lose moisture.

Wait to wash your berries until just before you want to eat them, because water can cause them to get mouldy. Transferring your berries to an airtight container once you get home helps, too.

Corn

Brecht suggests sprinkling the corn with some ice and storing it in a plastic bag, removing the water from the melted ice and replenishing it every so often.

Melons

Look for melons that smell good, and let them ripen on the counter, if needed.

Then store in the refrigerator, covered, in the fruit drawer if you can. Like apples and bananas, they give off ethylene, which can hasten ripening and spoilage in other produce.

Try to keep the melon as intact as possible, cutting only what you need at the time.

Stone fruit

Let your peaches, plums and apricots ripen on the counter. Once they’re ripe, refrigerate them for up to a few days.

Keep them in the fruit drawer, as they’re ethylene producers, too. If you have one, a grocery store plastic produce bag is useful here, as it’s designed to let in air but not moisture.

Peppers and summer squash

Because they originate in warmer climates, peppers and summer squash are sensitive to the cold. That’s why it’s best to keep them in the main compartment of the refrigerator, which is a bit warmer than the drawers.

To prevent water loss and shrivelling (fridge air is dry, says Brecht), store peppers and squash in a bag or container. Separate them from ethylene producers.

Salad greens

If you’re buying loose, fresh greens from the farmers market, put them in a bag or storage container. Sprinkle them with water or include a wet paper towel. This will keep the greens crisp and prevent them from wilting due to moisture loss.

For bagged salads you buy from the store, it’s best to use them all at once or, at the latest, the next day.

“They go downhill really fast,” Brecht says, once they lose the sealed atmosphere of the specially formulated packaging.

If you do have leftovers, leave them in the bag they came in. Roll it up tightly and close with a clip.