Tomatoes
Receiving and Inspecting: Choose tomatoes that are smooth, firm and have good color. Make sure that the tomato is a good weight for its size and mature, but not over-ripe. Scars around the blossom end cause some waste but do not damage flavor. Puffy or watery tomatoes are of poor flavor. Because tomatoes are picked mature but not totally ripe, they will continue to ripen in transit.
Handling:

Temperature, Tomatoes:
62 - 68 degrees F
16 - 20 degrees C

Relative humidity, Tomatoes:
85 - 88%

Mist: No
Typical Shelf Life: Mature green: 21 - 28 days
Pink: 7 - 14 days
Sensitivities: Do not refrigerate.
Highly sensitive to freezing and susceptible to chilling injury
Ethylene producer
Merchandising: Display in single layer with stems up. Handle carefully to avoid bruising. Best displayed with avocados, as both can be displayed at room temperature on a dry table.


English Cucumbers
Receiving and Inspecting: Choose cucumbers that are well shaped, firm and have a deep green color. Any yellow coloring indicates over-maturity. Chill injury can cause water-soaked spots, pitting or tissue collapse.
Handling:

Temperature, Cucumbers:
45 - 50 degrees F
7 - 10 degrees C

Relative humidity, Cucumbers:
90 - 95%

Mist: No
Typical Shelf Life: 8 - 10 days
Sensitivities: Highly sensitive to freezing and susceptible to chilling injury
Ethylene sensitive
Merchandising: Display with other salad vegetables like radishes and bell peppers.Cross-merchandise with dressings, croutons or pickling spices.


Bell Peppers
Receiving and Inspecting: Good quality bell peppers are fresh, firm and bright in appearance. They should be thick-fleshed and have a fresh, green calyx (stem area). Immature peppers are usually soft, pliable, thin-fleshed and pale green in color, except for yellow bells, which are yellow in all stages of ripeness. A ripe bell pepper may yield to slight pressure, but should not be wrinkled or overly soft.
Handling:

Temperature, Bell Peppers:
45 - 50 degrees F
7.2 - 10 degrees C

Relative humidity, Bell Peppers:
85 - 90%

Mist: Light
Typical Shelf Life: 8 - 10 days
Sensitivities: Odor producer
Highly sensitive to freezing and susceptible to chilling injury
Ethylene sensitive
Merchandising: Display multiple colors of peppers with other salad vegetables like cucumbers and carrots. Cross merchandise with fresh-cut vegetable trays and dips.



Printer-friendly






Copyright ©2003 The Oppenheimer Group. All rights reserved.
Republication or redistribution of www.oppyproduce.com contents, including text, graphics and logos
is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of The Oppenheimer Group.
Privacy Statement  Contact Us!