How to Keep Your Summer Produce Fresher for Longer

This summer I have been volunteering with the American Heart Association in New York City as the communications intern. Throughout my first three weeks, I have learned an abundance of information about keeping my heart happy and healthy. I also learned a lot about the direct relations between eating healthy foods and having good heart health.

This week we are focused on the importance of incorporating fruits and vegetables into your daily diet. The American Heart Association recommends that a person eats 4.5 cups of fruits or vegetables a day to help avoid risks for heart disease and stroke. Sometimes improper storage causes for fruits and vegetables to get rotten quick and be wasted. No one wants to be forced to throw produce out only a few days after buying it because it was stored improperly. Here is a cheat sheet on how to properly store your summer fruits and veggies to keep them fresher for longer.

Fruits:

Avocados – Leave them on the counter until they are fully ripe, then store them in the refrigerator.

Berries – You should not wash your blueberries, blackberries, strawberries or raspberries until they are ready to be eaten because they are delicate. Store them in your refrigerator in dry and covered containers.

Cherries and Grapes – Store these fruits in the refrigerator, unwashed, in their original packaged plastic containers or bags until they are ready to be washed and eaten.

Clementines – Store them in the crisper drawer or in a mesh bag in the refrigerator to keep them fresher for longer.

Melons – fruits like cantaloupe and honeydew should be stored loose in the refrigerator, even before they are cut. Watermelon should be kept in a dark, dry place away from other produce. Once you cut your melon, store it in the fridge.