Seeds of Inspiration Blogs

Follow along to learn about healthy lifestyle tips and tricks, alongside delicious veggie-filled recipes, and educational greenhouse-grow facts. We’re here to inspire and help you get the most out of your Red Sun Farms purchase.


Mastering Freshness: Essential Tips for Picking &...

Mastering Freshness: Essential Tips for Picking & Storing Produce

After the chaos of a hectic holiday season, we are left with the hope of a fresh start and the promise of new beginnings. For many, a New Year’s resolution starts in the kitchen. Finding ways to stretch the budget and get the most out of healthy, nutritious meals, is top of mind on our January to-do list.

At Red Sun Farms, our goal is to make life a little easier for our readers. We’ve done the homework and compiled a helpful list of tips and tricks to help you get the most out of picking and storing fresh produce.

Let’s start with tomatoes! From grape, cherry, and medley varieties to beefsteak and TOVs, here are some helpful tips on how to store tomatoes so that they stay fresh, last longer, and you get the most bang for your buck.

  1. Start by Picking the Freshest Tomatoes: It all starts at your local supermarket. A fresh tomato will have a nice color and be free of blemishes, broken skin, or discoloration. It should feel heavy for its size, which indicates juicy deliciousness. You can also look for a fresh, bright green stem.
  2. Store at Room Temperature: It's always best to store tomatoes (whether they be big or small) on the countertop, at room temperature, and not in the fridge. We also recommend that you avoid placing them in direct sunlight. For the best flavor, eat them within a few days of ripening.
  3. Get Creative with Leftovers: Maybe you bought a few too many tomatoes and are stuck on what to make – we have MANY ideas on how to use up tomatoes. From salsa, bruschetta, and Pico de Gallo, to savory soups and sauces, you’ll find plenty of ideas on our recipes page - but here are a few recommendations: Tomato Mozzarella Skewers | Stuffed Blue Cheese Tomatoes | Classic Tomato Soup

Peppers are available in various colors, shapes, and sizes. Depending on the variety, Bell peppers and mini peppers both have unique taste profiles, and some peppers may be sweeter than others.

  1. Sweet Shopping Tips for Peppers: When searching for the perfect pepper, check for firmness, uniform color, a smooth shiny texture, and a nice stem. For bell peppers specifically, look for ones that have four or five lobes, as these tend to be on the sweeter side.
  2. Store in the Fridge: The best place to store peppers for maximum freshness is in a plastic or mesh bag in the crisper drawer. Remember to leave the stem on as this helps preserve the peppers and keep them wrinkle-free. Whole bell peppers can last up to two weeks in the fridge when stored properly. You can also cut and freeze peppers in a freezer-safe bag or container for 6 months to one year.
  3. A versatile Cooking Essential: Peppers make an excellent snack or ingredients to just about any meal or recipe. Stuff them, bake them, add them to stir fry’s, fajitas, or enjoy them fresh with a healthy dip. The possibilities are endless! Mushroom Stuffed Sweetpeaks | Mini Pepper Poppers | Bell Pepper Pizza

Cucumbers are a hydrating, crunchy veggie that we just can’t get enough of! Whether you enjoy long English cukes, or the mini, bite-sized delights, we recommend you check out these tips for optimal storage and freshness.

  1. Finding the Freshest Cukes: While at the supermarket, assess the color and firmness. Most cucumbers are a deep green, but there are lighter shades available on the market. Fresh cucumbers should be firm to the touch. Avoid any with soft spots, yellow discoloration, or broken skin.
  2. Keep them Cool in the Fridge: To keep them fresh, cucumbers should be stored in the crisper drawer of the fridge and in a plastic wrap or a zip-loc bag with no moisture.
  3. A Healthy Addition to Any Meal: Cucumbers are best enjoyed cold and fresh. They can be enjoyed on their own as a healthy snack paired with your favorite dip or as a crunchy addition to any salad, sandwich, or wrap. Here are three recipes from The Red Sun Farms’ kitchen for inspiration: Cucumber Avocado Roll-Ups | Cucumber Blueberry Salad | Crisp Cucumber & Tomato Salad

We hope these tips help get the most out of your veggies! Be sure to tune in next month when we dive into healthy Superbowl snack ideas featuring mini sweet peppers.

Happy New Year veggie lovers!

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