Ontario Home Economics Association
  • Home
  • About OHEA
    • What is a P.H.Ec.
    • How To Become a P.H.Ec.
    • Membership Benefits
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact Us
  • News
    • Cookbooks >
      • The Vegetarian's Complete Quinoa Cookbook
      • P.H.Ec. Authors
      • Homegrown
    • Media >
      • OHEA Highlights
      • Care for the Caregiver
      • Links/Resources
      • Videos
  • Branch Associations
    • THEA
    • Branch News
    • Affiliated Associations
    • Student Branches
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Food Literacy
    • Resources
  • OHEA COURSE
  • Join Us
    • Students
    • Categories of Membership
    • Privacy Statement
    • Awards and Scholarships
  • Members
    • Membership Renewal
    • Member News & Announcements
    • Mentorship Program
    • AGM
    • Newsletters
    • Jobs

Tips To Reduce Food Waste from Homegrown

6/5/2017

0 Comments

 
Waste Less and Enjoy More Fresh Produce
By: Theresa ​Makarewicz, P.H.Ec.
Excerpted from Homegrown, by Mairlyn Smith. Reprinted with permission of Whitecap Books.
Picture

​It's a fact! Canadians waste food-especially fresh produce. However, with careful planning and proper storage, families can save money and time and always have nutritious produce on hand for quick and healthy meals.

Here are a few tips to reduce waste, save money and enjoy more produce:
  • Think ahead. Plan meals, make a grocery list and stick to it.
  • Buy only what you need and use it in reasonable time. A 20 lb (9 kg) bag of potatoes is no bargain  if it spoils.
  • Visit farmers' markets early in the day; freshly picked greens and herbs wilt rapidly in the sun.
  • Keep produce cool. Take a cooler along to safely transport produce home in a hot car.
  • Before storing, remove elastic bands or twist ties to avoid bruising of produce.
  • Store produce unwashed . With the exception of leafy greens, fresh fruits and veggies have a natural protective coating and washing before storing speeds up spoilage.
  • Separation of fruits and vegetables is vital. As fruits ripen, they produce a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas called ethylene that triggers ripening and causes vegetables to spoil.
  • Pack produce loosely in perforated plastic bags. To perforate, snip several holes into bags with scissors.
  • Check refrigerated produce regularly. Remove spoiling items. It's true! One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch.

Some fruits and vegetables need special attention:
  • Apples ripen 10 times faster at room temperature. Store in a perforated bag in the crisper.
  • Keep unripe fruits, such as peaches, nectarines, plums, pears and melon on the counter at room temperature-but out of direct sunlight-until they yield  to gentle pressure,  then refrigerate.
  • Avoid bitter carrots by storing them away from apples.
  • Leave com husks on and refrigerate cobs in a perforated plastic bag. Husk when ready to use.
  • Store onions and potatoes in a cool, dark, dry place, but not side by side. Potatoes decrease the shelf life of onions, causing them to rot prematurely. Light causes potatoes to tum green and bitter.
  • Sweet potatoes should not be refrigerated as the core will harden.  For longer storage, keep cool around 55°F to 60°F (13°C to l6°C) or at  room  temperature  for 1week.
  • Broccoli and cauliflower can be stored whole in a perforated plastic bag, or cut into florets and stored (unwashed) in a plastic bag for quick use.
  • Store tomatoes at room temperature away from direct sunlight. Refrigeration changes their texture and flavour.
  • Cover herbs with a damp cloth or paper towel and refrigerate in a sealable bag or container. Or trim ends, place in a jar with water, cover loosely and refrigerate. Remember to change the water every couple of days;
  • Can, pickle or freeze produce at its peak of freshness.
  • If you do need to throw out produce, compost it back to the soil or use a green bin.
  • Make a nutritious pot of soup to use up veggies and avoid waste.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.


    Picture

    The Ontario Home Economics Association, a self-regulating body of professional Home Economists, promotes high professional standards among its members so that they may assist families and individuals to achieve and maintain a desirable quality of life.

    Categories

    All
    ACHES
    Agriculture
    Award
    Board Of Directors
    Branch Associations
    Conference
    Contest
    Family/Relationships
    Finances
    Food Literacy
    Foods And Nutrition
    Homegrown
    Interviews
    Mentorship
    New PHEcs
    Nutrition
    Obituary
    Outreach
    Professional Development
    Recipes
    Sponsors
    Student Member
    Sustainability
    Through The Years

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    October 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    May 2020
    April 2020
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    April 2015
    July 2014
    May 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012

    RSS Feed

About OHEA
Job Postings
                                 Subscribe to our mailing list
News and Events
Food Literacy in the News
                        Unsubscribe ​from our mailing list
Blog
Links/Resources
                                                           Contact Us
Copyright © 2023 Ontario Home Economics Association (OHEA). All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • About OHEA
    • What is a P.H.Ec.
    • How To Become a P.H.Ec.
    • Membership Benefits
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact Us
  • News
    • Cookbooks >
      • The Vegetarian's Complete Quinoa Cookbook
      • P.H.Ec. Authors
      • Homegrown
    • Media >
      • OHEA Highlights
      • Care for the Caregiver
      • Links/Resources
      • Videos
  • Branch Associations
    • THEA
    • Branch News
    • Affiliated Associations
    • Student Branches
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Food Literacy
    • Resources
  • OHEA COURSE
  • Join Us
    • Students
    • Categories of Membership
    • Privacy Statement
    • Awards and Scholarships
  • Members
    • Membership Renewal
    • Member News & Announcements
    • Mentorship Program
    • AGM
    • Newsletters
    • Jobs