Selecting and Storing Produce

Proper selection and storage will help maintain the flavor and texture of fruits and vegetables. Follow these tips on safe storage and handling.

Fruit/Vegetables	Selection	Storage	Tips
Apples	Look for apples that are rich in color, firm, and bruise free	Room temperature 1 to 2 days. Refrigerator crisper up to 1 month	Store apples unwashed in plastic bags in the crisper
Pears	Look for pears that are firm, but not too hard and bruise free	Room temperature 1 to 2 days Refrigerator crisper 1 to 2 days	Ripen pears at room temperature. Once they are ripe, refrigerate them for no longer than two days before eating. Avoid storing ripe or unripe pears in plastic bags.
Winter Squash	Look for mature squash that is heavy, free of blemishes, with a hard tough rind	Room temperature 3 months	Store winter squash in a cool, dry place. They will keep up to 3 months
Potatoes	Look for potatoes that are clean, and well shaped. Avoid green tinged, sprouted, or bruised potatoes	Room temperature 1 to 2 weeks	Store unwashed potatoes in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from away from other fruits and vegetables, especially onions as they may transfer odors
Sweat Potatoes	Look for firm sweet potatoes with smooth, bruise-free skins, without cracks	Room temperature up to 10 days	Store sweet potatoes in a cool, dry place such as a pantry