Fact Sheet No. Food and Nutr i t ion Ser ies|Food Safety

by M. Bunning and S. Yeh*

Farmers’ Market Shopping Tips • Goearlyforthebestselection.• Checkoutalltheboothsbeforemaking

yourchoices.Thereisgenerallyalargeandcolorfulvarietyofproduceandlocally-madefoodproducts.

• CashisalwaysacceptedbutmanyofColoradofarmers’marketsalsoacceptcreditcardsandElectronicBenefitTransfer(EBT)cardsthatenablefoodstamptransactionsatfarmers’markets.

• Bringclothshoppingbags.Theyaresturdierandmuchbetterforcorn!Or,reusecleanplasticbags.Insulatedbagsworkwellforcoldorfrozenfoods.

• Wearcomfortableclothing,shoesandsunscreen.Bringacamerasincetherearegreatphotoopportunities.

• Takeyourtimeandgettoknowyourlocalvendorsandtheirfoods.Manyboothsoffercookingtipsorrecipes.

• Tryanewitemeachtimeyouvisitafarmers’market–youmaydiscovera

Quick Facts• An abundance of flavorful,

high quality produce is grown in Colorado.

• Shopping at farmers’ markets offers opportunities to select ‘just picked’ fresh produce and try unique locally-made products.

• Following these practical tips can help you enjoy the many flavorful offerings of our local farmers’ markets.

*M. Bunning, Colorado State University, food science and human nutrition, Extension food safety specialist and assistant professor; S. Yeh, graduate student, food science and human nutrition. 3/2010

© Colorado State University Extension. 3/10.

www.ext.colostate.edu

favoritefood.Askthevendorforhandlingandpreparationinstructions.

• Sharethebounty-takesomefruitorflowerstoafriendorneighbor.Extraproducecanalsobefrozen,driedorcannedforout-of-seasonenjoyment.

• Gohomesoonaftermakingyourpurchasesinordertomaintainpeakquality.Bringacoolerwithcoldpacksoricetokeepperishablefoodscoolonthewayhome.Placedelicateproduce,likeleafygreens,ontopofcoldpacks.

Food Safety RecommendationsAt the Market...

Keepproducethatneedstoberefrigeratedathomecoolatthemarket.Keepperishablefoodsoniceoratrefrigeratedtemperatures.Whatareperishablefoods?Foodssuchaseggs,cheese,meat,creampiesandsometypesoffreshproducethatrequirerefrigeration,likeleafygreens.Planonbuyingperishablefoodslastduringyourtriptothemarket.Keephotfoods,likeroastedpeppers,separatefromotherfoods.Reusableclothandvinylbagsaregoodoptionsforthemarketbuttheyneedtobewashedregularly.

On the Way Home...Trytomakethefarmers’marketthelast

stoponyourlistsoyoucangodirectlyhome.Ifitcan’tbeyourlaststop,planaheadandbringacoolerwithicepacksforperishableitems.Bacteriacangrowreadilyatwarmtemperaturesandquicklycauseadecreaseinfoodqualityandsafety.

At Home...Fresh Produce Storage• Washingproducebeforestoringisnot

recommendedasthismaypromotedeterioration.Alwayswashfreshfruitsandvegetableswithrunningwaterjustbeforeuse.

• Storerefrigeratedproduceinplasticbagswithholestoletaircirculate.

Shopping at Colorado Farmers’ Markets

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• Mostfreshproducehasashortshelf-lifeandshouldbeusedwithinafewdays.However,apples,onions,potatoes,andwintersquashcanlastmuchlonger.

• Notallproduceshouldbestoredtogether.Apples,tomatoesandmelonsproduceethylenegasandshouldbestoredawayfromotherproduce.

• Storeunripenedpeaches,plumsandapricotsatroomtemperatureinapaperbaguntilripe.Refrigeratingunripenedproduceslowsdowntheripeningprocess.

• Tomatoesandmelonscanbestoredatroomtemperatureuntilripeorcutandthenrefrigerated.Ifyouplantocanorfreezeyour

marketproduce,followUSDAfoodpreservationguidelineswithadjustmentsforhighaltitude.

In the Kitchen...Followbasicsafetyrules;keephotfoods

hot,coldfoodscold,andcuttingsurfacesandutensilsclean.

Hand WashingRinsehandswithclean,warmwater.Applysoapandlatherfor20seconds.Rinsecleanwithwarmwater.Dryhandswithacleanclothor

papertowel.

PreparationRinseleafyvegetablesunderplaincold

water,leafbyleaf.

Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Colorado counties cooperating. CSU Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. No endorsement of products mentioned is intended nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned.

Scrubtoughproduce(melons,potatoes,andcarrots)withacleanfirmbrushundercoldrunningwater.

Usingsoaporbleachtocleanproduceisnotrecommended.

Alwaysusecleanandsanitizedcuttingboardsandutensils.

ServingIfyourfoodneedstobetransportedinhotweather,keepitinacooleroniceuntilit’sreadytoserve.

Keepunwashedmelonrindsandfruitpeelsawayfromedibleorwashedportionsoffruit.

Discardcutproduceaftertwohoursatroomtemperature.

Resources9.310,FoodStorageforSafetyand

Quality,www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09310.html

9.369,PreventingE.colifromGardentoPlate,www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09369.html

9.373,HealthBenefitsandSafeHandlingofSaladGreens,www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09373.html

Morefactsheetsonfoodsafety,storage,andhealthbenefitsoffreshfoodsareavailableonlineatwww.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/pubs.html#nutrition.