Cleaning your fruits and veggies and keeping them fresher longer

What's the secret to keeping your fruit fresher longer?? 

It is that time of the year, all the farmer markets and road side stands have their fresh fruit out ! Well we want it to last, How many times do you go to the fruit market and in just a few days, the fruit that you didn't get an opportunity to wash and cut up is already going bad. I found that the shelf life is really just a few days. 

I've come across a quick trick and it really makes a difference.. So what's the secret to extending the life of your berries?? Good Ol fashion White Vinegar !! 

I don't just use this on my berries, I have started to clean all my fruit with it. 

• Once you bring your fresh berries home, the key to keeping it fresh is to kill any spores on the fruit.  The pH of vinegar does that job.
• Place the berries in a large bowl and wash them in a vinegar-water bath:  1 cup of white vinegar and 3 cups of water.
• Let the berries sit in the vinegar-water bath, gently moving them to help dislodge any dirt, grime and letting the vinegar kill spores and bacteria.
• Drain the berries in a colander and then thoroughly rinse the fruit (to remove any vinegar flavor).
• Thicker skinned fruit (like strawberries or blueberries) can be dried in a salad spinner but delicate berries such as raspberries and blackberries should be dried on a towel, patting them with paper or cloth towels.
• Store the washed and dried fruit in a sealed container that has been lined with paper towels — if using an air-tight container, leave the lid slightly open to avoid natural moisture build-up.  When I handle fruit I have purchased from my grocery store, I wash the original container and then re-use it, making sure to line it with paper towels

Smooth skinned produce:

This includes produce such as tomatoes, apples and grapes. Use a 1 to 3 ratio of vinegar to water in a spray bottle or large bowl. Spray or dunk fruit into the mixture until thoroughly covered. Let sit for 30 seconds then rub mixture off under cold, running water. A scrub brush is not recommended for this type of produce because you might break the skin before they are fully clean.

Rough surface produce:

This includes produce such as berries, broccoli, cauliflower or greens. Use the same 1:3 vinegar to water mixture in a large bowl. Allow to soak for at least two minutes before rinsing thoroughly under cold, running water. You may use a scrub brush for this type of produce.

Bonus tip: Adding lemon juice to the mix can boost acidity, which may help kill more bacteria.