How to keep produce fresher, longer

Keeping your family healthy through cold and flu season can be tough. One way to keep everyone’s immune system in tip top shape is to eat lots of vitamin and nutrient laden fresh fruits and vegetables.

To keep produce fresh and free of harmful bacteria Health Canada recommends consumers:

• Refrigerate fruits and vegetables that need refrigeration.
• Keep fruits and veggies separate from meat, poultry, seafood and their juices.
• Cut away any bruised or damaged areas on produce.
• Wash produce thoroughly under fresh, cool, running water, even if you’re going to peel them. Ethylene is a harmless, odourless, and colourless gas that is naturally released by fruits and vegetables to trigger the ripening process. But ethylene can build up in your refrigerator and make it happen even faster, shortening the life of your produce. Check out these ethylene-busters.

Originally published in ParentsCanada magazine, February/March 2016.