The flavour of fruits and vegetables is influenced by maturity and quality at harvest and by how they are stored afterwards. To maintain the freshness and flavour of the produce you buy at the market or grow in your garden, you should know how to store it at home.

Have you ever had to throw away fruits and vegetables just because they didn't look edible anymore? Most of us get a little carried away at the store and buy more than we can eat, often getting enticed by “buy 2 get 1 free” type deals that only end up being a wasteful practice, especially when you don’t store them properly.

Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is healthy, but care must be taken to be sure fruits and vegetables do not become contaminated with harmful bacteria. In just the United States, one in four people suffers from foodborne illnesses each year. Some of these illnesses have been traced to eating raw fruits or vegetables.