We all know we should be eating more fruits and vegetables. This is a given. But what we may not understand is why it’s important to wash produce before we eat it. In today’s world, it is unlikely any fruit or vegetable is 100% free of pesticides. Even organic produce may have pesticide residues.

Viruses can live on our Fruits and Vegetables

With everything going on in the world today, washing produce is even more important. We now know that viruses can live on our fruits and vegetables for extended periods of time, even if they are stored in the refrigerator.  To protect ourselves we need to adopt good cleaning habits. Just as we know to wash our hands in warm soapy water for 20 seconds, it is just as important to wash our fruits and vegetables.

Make your own Produce Spray

You can purchase commercial veggie/fruit spray to wash your produce, but there are many ways to make your own at home that will be more effective than washing in plain water.

To wash veggies: fill a large bowl with water, add a tsp of baking soda or white vinegar then add whatever veggies you are using. Soak for a minute or two and scrub with a brush. Rinse off the veggies.

To wash fruit: harder skinned fruits such as pears, apples, cherries or peaches can be washed in a baking soda or vinegar bath the same way you would do your veggies. Soft fruit such as berries can be rinsed in a mesh strainer and sprayed with a mixture of vinegar and water. S+S suggests filling a small spray bottle with ¾ vinegar and ¼ water and keeping it under your kitchen sink. White vinegar is inexpensive and you can buy it in bulk.

Make it Part of your Regular Routine

It only takes a little extra time to properly protect yourself when preparing your food. Make the effort not only in the current COVID-19 environment, but try to adopt it as part of your regular routine over the long run. All these extra sanitary measures we are learning to apply in our day-to-to day lives may just ultimately save a life!

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