November 12, 2005

The Virginia Cooperative Extension offers advice on “Food Storage Guidelines for Consumers”. Arlington Farmers Market patrons already know the part about purchasing fresh food. The fact sheet goes on to describe proper temperatures and techniques for storing the meat, dairy, eggs, and a variety of produce you may purchase every week at the AFM.

Here for example is what they say for storing fresh vegetables:

“Removing air (oxygen) from the package, storing the vegetables at 40°F refrigerated temperatures, and maintaining optimum humidity (95 to 100%) may extend shelf-life of fresh vegetables. Most fresh vegetables may be stored up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Always wrap or cover fresh leafy vegetables in moisture-proof bags to retain product moisture and prevent wilting. Root vegetables (potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, etc.) and squashes, eggplant, and rutabagas should be stored in a cool, well-ventilated place between 50°F and 60°F. Tomatoes continue to ripen after harvesting and should be stored at room temperature. Removing the tops of carrots, radishes, and beets prior to refrigerator storage will reduce loss of moisture and extend shelf-life. Palatability of corn diminishes during cold storage due to elevated starch content. Corn and peas should be stored in a ventilated container. Lettuce should be rinsed under cold running water, drained, packaged in plastic bags, and refrigerated. Proper storage of fresh vegetables will maintain quality and nutritive value.”

Similar details are offered for fruits and grains, complete with a chart for how long you can safely store at room temperate, refrigerated, and frozen. Some of us already know this from trial and error. The fact sheet can be found at: http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/foods/348-960/348-960.html and downloaded in PDF format.

This is one of several fact sheets offered for emergency preparedness, including “Emergency Supplies of Water for Drinking and Food Preparation” and “Buying Bottled Water”. All these can be found by visiting the VCE website, or go directly to http://www.ext.vt.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Docs.woa/wa/getcat?cat=ir-dis