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Washing your Vegetable and Fruit – Water just isn’t enough
As seen on BCTV August 1/00
WASHING YOUR VEGETABLE AND FRUIT – WATER JUST ISN’T ENOUGH
Most Canadians feel that water alone doesn’t get fresh produce clean enough. Well, the fact is that they are right. Water alone will remove dirt and grime but not wax, pesticides and chemicals. There are a few ways to improve your vegetable and fruit washing technique. Try one of the following.
- Fill sink 1/2 full with warm water and add 1 cup vinegar. Add fruits and vegetables and let them soak for 15-30 minutes, rub thoroughly, rinse, dry and store in fridge.
- Fill sink 1/2 full with warm water and add 1 cap full of bleach. Soak produce for 10 minutes, and continue as described above.
- Use dish soap as if you were washing dishes and follow the instructions above.
- Organic vegetable sprays.
- Use “FIT” vegetable and fruit wash.
Soak Method: Add 1 capful to 2 liters of water, let the produce soak for a few minutes and rub thoroughly. Rinse under running water.
Spray Method: Spray fit all over the produce and gently rub for about 20 seconds. For produce you can’t rub, let stand for 2-3 minutes. Thoroughly rinse under running water.
Fit is a fresh fruit and vegetable wash made from naturally sourced ingredients such as baking soda, citric acid and grapefruit oil. It removes 98% more wax, dirt, residues left during the handling process, chemicals and pesticides from fresh produce far better than water alone. Fit rinses away and leaves the produce tasting and smelling naturally. Fit can be used on all fruit and vegetables. The harder to rub vegetables such as grapes and cherries can be soaked, whereas apples and tomatoes can be sprayed directly and then rubbed.
Fit is available in grocery stores, club stores such as Save-On-Foods, mass merchandisers and drug stores. It is available in the produce department or near the dish washing liquid in the laundry and cleaning products isle.
Having fresh fruit and vegetables washed and in your fridge is a great way to make them more available and easy to grab on the run. Aim to have at least 5 tennis ball servings of fruit and vegetables each day.
Watch for the Eating for Energy segment every Tuesday on BCTV’s Noon News Hour!