Help me save my CSA!

[principii]

:

This city mouse needs some advice...

So, every week, we get our CSA box, chock full of goodies. My problem is that when I put them in the fridge, no matter WHERE I put them, the carrots, broccoli, etc., ALL GO WIMP WITHIN 24 HOURS.

I understand that their life-span may be less, they're fresh and ready to eat. However, I don't like to see all this go down the drain!!

Am I not supposed to be putting them in the fridge? How can I make everything last for the week??

Thank you SO MUCH!!!
Lindsey

[CariOfOz]

That's seriously sucky How do you store them in the fridge? I know there are supposed to be reusable produce bags that help things last longer, maybe have a look for those? I am somewhat naughty on this front I use tupperware fridge smart containers...I figure the use of plastic is better than wasting food all the time. I can keep even mushrooms for a week or two in those suckers

[flminivanmama]

This was a good article on produce storage

[lmonter]

We have no problems if we don't rinse things until we use them, and store them in an airtight ziploc (or whatever) with a paper towel or thin towel wrapped around it. I've kept lettuce/broccoli/washed grapes/etc. in the fridge for a week or three depending on how fresh they were when I got them. The paper towel absorbs extra moisture so your produce doesn't wilt much or so it doesn't mold, and then gives the moisture back when the produce needs it. Alton Brown explains it pretty well - as well as how to bring back wilted lettuce.

If you leave things in the fridge just willy nilly though, they will go limp, and fast. The inside of the fridge is either a little dry or humid, depending on the location.

[cristeen]

Carrots, celery and broccoli will all go limp from dehydration. Rinse the carrots/broccoli, shake the excess water off and bag them up (I use the reusable green bags) - celery does not need rinsing, it does need bagging. Alternately you can lay a damp towel in the bottom of your crisper drawer and designate that drawer for your "damp" veggies. You will need to change the towel every other day or so to prevent mold. Or, if your crisper drawers have humidity settings, adjust them appropriately (I have one drawer set to damp produce and one set to dry produce).

For those kinds of veggies, their life span should not be less - they should be more, because they are so fresh. Things like tomatoes would be less because the ones in the store are picked so green.

[steffanie3]

I would cut the tops off the carrots, beets, and things of that nature too mine seem to go limp really quick if left on.

[Quirky]

Is your CSA harvesting the day of or the day before pickup/delivery? And how are they storing it until harvest? I would speak to the farmer or manager and let them know that your veggies aren't surviving very well. It may be that they're out in the fields suffering in the sun for too long before going into cold storage, or they're being harvested too many days before pickup.

[dillonandmarasmom]

We got some green bags from reusablebags.com and love them! I did quite a bit of reading on them, and they work iincredibly well.