Grocery shopping may seem like a routine thing that we all are familiar with, but the way you store your produce can make a dramatic difference in its shelf life. The gas that causes certain fruits and vegetables to ripen faster is called ethylene. Based on the type of produce, the specific variety, and its maturity, it all plays a role in your produce’s shelf life. Below we have a guide that can assist you.

Have you ever purchased avocados before they were ripened? If you place your avocados in a bag on your countertop it will speed up the ripening process, where as storing them in the refrigerator slows the production of ethylene. Another contributing factor with the ripening process is whether your produce is climacteric, meaning that the ripening process continues after it has been picked, it is important to keep it away from ethylene producers that will shorten its life. Most refrigerators have produce bins in them that can also assist in increasing the shelf life. If this guide is used properly, you can save yourself a lot of money and enjoy your produce for a longer period of time. Happy shopping!