Keep it Fresh: Managing Your Market Haul

CHRISTINA MARBURY, Digital Media Specialist and Staff Photographer

Whether you have a big CSA delivery every week or just can't help going overboard at the market, knowing how to manage a big haul of fruits and veggies is the best way to reduce waste. Follow these steps for produce bliss all week (and winter!) long.

Make a plan: Take stock of all the produce and make a rough plan of what you want to do with it. Dishes like stir fry, pasta primavera, big salads, and grain & veggie bowls are all great ways to make an incredible meal with whatever produce you have on hand.

Start with what will spoil quickly: Make note of things like delicate berries, perfectly ripe tomatoes, fresh leafy greens and other produce that will spoil quickly and make sure you use those items first. Root vegetables, hearty greens, and fruit, like apples, will all last quite a while.

Freeze what you won't use: If there are items you don’t think you’ll be able to use, freeze them for later so you can enjoy the bounty of summer all year long. Many dishes like soups and casseroles are great candidates for freezing, giving your future self an easy dinner when you need it most.

FRESHNESS TIPS

Tips for keeping produce fresh in the fridge:

Place herb stems in water like you would a bouquet of flowers and they’ll keep much longer.

Put salad greens into an airtight container with a clean towel or piece of paper towel to absorb excess moisture.

Store ripe fruit in the fridge to extend its duration of peak ripeness.

Don’t forget — local produce stays fresh longer! This is just another benefit of supporting local farms who are able to quickly get their produce from the field to your fridge.