Preserving Summer's Bounty

This is the time of year to really enjoy fresh produce, with the fabulous farmers markets across our region are going full strength as well as gardens beginning to produce. As you bring home your fresh produce it is important to know what needs to be refrigerated and what is best left out of the fridge. If you automatically tossed every fresh fruit and vegetable you buy into the refrigerator, you could be making a big mistake.
Did you know that oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits and melons like watermelon, cantaloupe and honey dew also bananas, garlic, onions, potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggplants — none has to be refrigerated as USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Tom Schwartz explains
Schwartz: They don’t need refrigeration and they will continue along that ripening process. The flesh will become a little bit softer, that is fine for them — that is what they should do, but they don’t even need refrigeration.”
But the catch Schwartz says
Schwartz: “It really depends on when you are planning on using it.”
Now if you what cut down on the pace of ripening Schwartz says
Schwartz: “What refrigeration does - -the only thing that it does it slow down the process so that you can have it longer.”
But for the most part, keeping certain produce on the counter top or a cool place will suffice and will still maintain the nutrient content and flavor.