Ask us! Village Marketplace Q & A:

We receive many questions from our customers, both in the store and through our website. We hope these helpful produce tips and tricks help ... If You’ve got a question for our in-house food experts, click here.

How do I keep leafy green vegetables fresh in my refrigerator? And is there a way to make wilted leafy vegetables crunchy and colorful again?
To keep vegetables (especially green, leafy ones) fresh as long as possible, wrap them (after they’ve been washed) in a paper towel or newspaper before storing them in your refrigerator vegetable tray. To breathe new life into wilted greens, remove the stems and separate the stalks. Add 3/4 cup granulated sugar to a vessel filled with cold water and soak vegetables in the solution for 4 to 5 hours. Drain well and refrigerate. Add a pinch of salt and sugar to your vegetables while they’re cooking to avoid discoloration.

Is there a way to peel onions without crying? And how do I get the smell of onions and garlic off my hands?
Peel onions under water or refrigerate onions before cutting them to keep from crying. Run your hands on your stainless steel sink grip after handling onions or garlic to remove the smell from your skin.

How can I keep celery fresher longer in the refrigerator?
Celery wrapped in aluminum foil before refrigerating will remain fresh for weeks.

What’s the best way to store potatoes to keep them from spoiling?
Potatoes rot quickly if stored near onions. To prevent potatoes from budding, place an apple in a brown paper bag with your potatoes and store them in a dark place.

How do I select the best-tasting and ripest melon?
Two methods used together will give you the best indicater of melon ripeness. First of all, a ripe melon will have a fragrant smell, unripe ones will have virtualy no smell of melon. The next test is to press in gently with your thumb on the "Blossom End" of the melon. The Blossom end is on the opposite side from the "Stem End". If the melon gives easily when pressed there, it is ripe. If it doesn't give at all, it is unripe. Occasionaly a melon will be picked so green that it will begin to decay before it is fully ripened. This will be evident by the appearance of Dimples or Soft Spots on the surface. When this happens the melon should be refrigerated right away.

Which fruits continue to ripen after they're picked?
Apricots, bananas, cantaloupe, kiwi, mangoes, nectarines, peaches, pears, plantains and plums continue to ripen at room temperature after they're picked. To speed their ripening, put them in a loosely closed brown paper bag (not a plastic bag) or ripening bowl at room temperature. Once fully ripened, most fruits may be stored in the refrigerator to lengthen their storage time. Fruits that should be picked or bought ripe and ready-to-eat include apples, cherries, grapefruit, grapes, oranges, pineapple, strawberries, tangerines and watermelon.

Do you have any tips for keeping cut fruit from turning brown?
Keep cut fruits, such as apples, pears, bananas and peaches, from turning brown by coating them with an acidic juice such as lemon, orange or pineapple juice. Or use a commercial anti-darkening preparation, frequently called a "fruit protector" such as Ever-Fresh™ or Fruit-Fresh®.