Summer is here and that means we now have access to a plethora of fresh produce and fruit. If you are like us, we tend to pack the fridge with leafy greens, veggies, berries and melons. 
But there is nothing more disappointing than pulling out a package of raspberries only to find them fuzzy with mold.
To keep your produce fresher and safer longer, try these tips:
Treat herbs like flowers. Store herbs (like cilantro or parsley), asparagus and green onions in a tall glass of fresh water. Just trim the stems, and cover them with some plastic wrap and place them in a spill proof location in the fridge.
Know where to store fruits and vegetables. Not all fruits and veggies need to be in the refrigerator. Avocados, citrus, bananas, nectarines, pears, peaches, onions, tomatoes, and potatoes can all be stored at room temperature or in a cool pantry. Don’t store onions and potatoes together, they will spoil faster.
Wrap your greens in paper towels. Lettuce, spinach and other leafy greens tend to get slimy over time. It is easy to prevent by just adding a few paper towels with your cleaned greens to help soak up excessive moisture. You can do the same with leftover salads.
Use plastic wrap on bananas. Simply cover the crown of a bunch of bananas with plastic wrap to slow the release of ethylene gas. This simple trick will prevent the bunch from ripening too quickly. When they do get overripe, don’t toss them! There are a lot of tasty recipes for overripe bananas. We just freeze them for future use.
Wrap celery in foil. Wrapping the entire bunch of celery in foil helps it stay fresh and crunchy for up to four weeks in your crisper drawer. The foil helps to keep just the right amount of moisture in, and the ethylene gas out.
Wash produce as you go. This is a hard one for me. I like to clean up my fruit and produce so it is easy to grab and eat. However, if it will be a few days until you plan to eat it, wait on cleaning it. By washing, you are introducing water that can hasten spoiling.
Soak berries in vinegar. This is one of my favorite tricks. Just soak berries in three-parts water, one-part vinegar solution. It kills bacteria and prevents molding. Rinse the berries then dry them on the counter on paper towels for a while before placing in the fridge. And in case you are wondering, the berries do not taste like vinegar.
Make sure your fridge is at the right temperature. Check to make sure you fridge’s thermometer is working properly. You can buy a relatively inexpensive thermometer to check. The temp should be set to at least 40° Fahrenheit or a few degrees cooler.
Now, go enjoy that fresh produce!