SAFETY TOPIC 139

	Food Safety – Produce
Safety Management System 2007		SMS ST018 2007

CARE AND HANDLING OF PRODUCE

Order only what your need, fruit and vegetables are not "stock up" items. Some can be stored, but most should be used within a few days.

Always handle these food items with care. Handle only as necessary, they bruise easily.

Store promptly, wash just before using, not when you put it away.

To ripen fruits such as peaches, plums, and avocados, put them in a ripening bowl, put a ripe banana or apple in with them to speed the process.

ITEMS	REFRIGERATION	STORAGE LENGTH	AVAILABLE	OTHER
bananas	Store at room temperature	Will keep a few days, depends on ripeness; fully ripe when all yellow with brown/black flecks	Year round	Can be frozen and used later in baking
apples	Store at room temperature, or refrigerate	Under refrigeration, will keep for weeks	Year round
oranges	Store at room temperature, or refrigerate	At room temperature, use within a week, under refrigeration, will keep for weeks	Year round, peak, Oct. – May	To get juiciest, choose ones that feel heavy for their size
Cantaloupes	Store ripe in refrigerator, especially if it is cut	A few days in the refrigerator	Year round
watermelons	Store in refrigerator, especially if cut	A few days to a week.	Year round, peak in the summer	Do not ripen after they are picked; thumping does not indicate ripeness
grapefruit	Room temperature is ok if using within a week	A few days at room temperature, a week or more in the refrigerator	Year round, peak in January to June
nectarines	Ripen at room temperature, refrigerate when ripe	A week or so in the refrigerator	Year round, peak May – September
Plums	Ripen at room temperature, refrigerate when ripe	A few days in the refrigerator	Winter and summer
potatoes	Store in cool dry dark place, avoid refrigeration and light (may alter the taste)	Up to two months	Year round
head lettuce	Core, rinse lightly and drain thoroughly before storing in a crisper or closed bag or container in refrigerator	A week or so for whole lettuce, pre cut for several days	Year round
tomatoes	Never refrigerate whole tomatoes, only cut ones and this could hurt the taste	Store at room temperature until ripe and eat immediately	Year round
onions	Store in cool, dry dark place with good air circulation in a basket or crate or woven bag	For weeks if stored as stated	Year round
Carrots	In the refrigerator	Remove the green tops, store them unwashed in a plastic bag, will keep for two weeks	Year round
Celery	Sprinkle with water to retard wilting and store in refrigerator in a plastic container	Two weeks in a refrigerator	Year round
bell peppers	Store in plastic bag in refrigerator	Up to five days	Year round