Buying
How to store fresh produce after delivery so it lasts longer
Store leafy greens, herbs, carrots and most soft fruit in the refrigerator; keep onions, potatoes, garlic and unripe fruit in a cool, dry, ventilated place; and keep ethylene-producing fruit such as ripe mangoes and bananas away from sensitive vegetables. Wash produce just before use, not before storing.
The first hour after delivery
Produce is freshest the day it arrives, so what you do in the first hour decides how long it lasts. Unpack everything, check it against your order, and remove damaged, bruised or mouldy items. Damaged pieces release moisture and spoil the produce around them.
If something is wrong with the order, raise it now. Farm2Fork's order record and QR journey show when and where each handoff happened, which gives you a precise starting point. See how traceability works.
Where each kind of produce belongs
| Produce | Where to keep it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spinach, methi, coriander, mint | Refrigerator | Wrap loosely in a dry cloth or paper towel inside a container |
| Carrots, radish, turnips | Refrigerator | Trim leafy tops; store dry |
| Cauliflower, cabbage | Refrigerator | Keep whole until use |
| Tomatoes | Room temperature, away from sun | Refrigerate only when fully ripe and to be eaten soon |
| Onions, garlic | Cool, dry, ventilated spot | Keep away from potatoes |
| Potatoes | Cool, dark, dry spot | Light turns them green; discard green parts |
| Okra, bitter gourd, bottle gourd | Refrigerator | Use within a few days |
| Mangoes, bananas, unripe fruit | Room temperature until ripe | Then refrigerate ripe mangoes to slow ageing |
| Citrus such as kinnow | Cool place or refrigerator | Lasts longest in the refrigerator |
Five rules that prevent most waste
- Wash just before using. Water left on produce in storage encourages mould.
- Keep ethylene producers apart. Ripe bananas, mangoes and tomatoes give off ethylene gas, which makes leafy greens and other produce age faster.
- Let air move. Do not seal produce in airtight bags unless it is very dry; use perforated bags or loosely closed containers.
- Eat the delicate things first. Leafy greens and soft fruit go before roots and citrus.
- Check every few days. Remove anything starting to spoil before it spreads.
Plan orders around storage
The easiest way to cut waste is to order what you will use. Leafy greens and berries suit small, frequent orders; potatoes, onions and citrus suit larger ones. If you buy from the same farm regularly, a short, regular order is better than a large occasional one. For choosing what to buy each month, see the seasonal produce calendar.
Common questions
Should tomatoes go in the refrigerator?
Usually not until they are fully ripe. Cold stops unripe tomatoes from developing flavour. Once ripe, refrigerate them only if you will not eat them within a day or two.
How long do fresh vegetables last after delivery?
Leafy greens last about two to four days, soft vegetables like okra a few days, and roots such as carrots a week or more, depending on freshness at delivery and storage. Check them regularly.
See how Farm2Fork puts this into practice
Direct orders from named farms, delivery quotes up front, and a QR journey for every order.