Produce Storage Guidelines

 Temperature fluctuates from front to back of a cooler due to the location of the cooling unit and the frequency of the door being opened. 

Divide the cooler into three area and store as Noted:

Tropical Fruit: Pineapple, bananas, papayas, mangos, avocados should be used upon arrival, but if additional ripening is needed, store at room temperature.  Once ripe, all but bananas can be held in refrigerator for a short period of time.

Tomatoes: Should be held at room temperature to ripen and then used immediately.  Be carefully not to over-buy - if you refrigerate a ripe tomato, it loses flavor.

Dry Storage: Recommended for potatoes, onions, garlic, ginger root, rutabagas yams. Do not refrigerate these items.

Some fresh fruits continue to ripen after they have been harvested while others do not.  Whether or not a fruit continues to ripen is a key factor in determining its storage and shelf life.  Fruits that require additional ripening should be stored at room temperature until they become ripe.  Fruits that do not ripen after harvesting should be stored in a cool area until they are used.