Muskegon Farmers Market

You went to your local market, you picked up some beautiful asparagus and plump strawberries. Now what?

Resist the urge to wash your bounty and put it into the refrigerator right away.

Ripening fruits such as melons and fruits with pits (nectarines, peaches, etc.) need to stand at room temperature. Their vitamins and phytochemicals tend to increase as they ripen.

And most vegetables and fruits will last longer if you wash and/or peel them just before using them this is especially true for berries. The moisture that water leaves can lead to rot more quickly; trust me, Ive lost more strawberries this way. Those berries should be refrigerated as soon as you bring them home. Rinse and slice them just before you’re ready to pop them into your mouth or toss them into some yogurt.

When it comes to greens, for maximum flavor, refrigerate and use them within one week. Fresh herbs and watercress can be stored like cut flowers; simply place a bunch with the stem ends in a container of fresh water. Put a plastic bag loosely over the top and refrigerate for up to four days.

This trick also works for asparagus. Place stalks in the coldest part of the refrigerator, standing upright in a container of shallow water; use within a couple of days of purchase.