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Fresh Produce That Shouldn’t Be Stored Together

While we’d love if all fruits and veggies could get along, these are some that shouldn’t be stored near each other.

When it comes to the ripening process and fresh produce, all fruits and veggies fall into one (or more) of three categories:

  • Ethylene Producers: Produce that releases a harmless-to-you gas (called ethylene) as they ripen. Certain producers, like bananas, tomatoes, and peppers only start emitting ethylene once verging on overripe.
  • Ethylene Sensitive: Fruits and veggies that are negatively affected by the ethylene gas emitted from ethylene producers.
  • Not Ethylene Sensitive: Some fruits and veggies simply aren’t bothered at all, like cherries, oranges, and raspberries.

Avoid storing ethylene producers near anything that’s ethylene-sensitive. Why? Ethylene speeds up ripening—and rotting—process, effectively increasing the likelihood of spoilage and food waste.

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Common Ethylene Producers:

  • Apples
  • Apricots
  • Bananas (ripe)
  • Cantaloupe
  • Figs
  • Kiwi (ripe)
  • Nectarines
  • Peaches
  • Pears 
  • Papaya
  • Plums
  • Avocados
  • Peppers
  • Tomatoes
  • Potatoes

Ethylene Sensitive Produce:

  • Apples
  • Avocados
  • Bananas (unripe)
  • Cantaloupe
  • Grapes
  • Kiwi (unripe)
  • Lemons
  • Limes
  • Mangoes
  • Peaches
  • Pears
  • Plums
  • Strawberries
  • Watermelon
  • Asparagus
  • Broccoli
  • Carrots
  • Collard Greens
  • Cucumber
  • Eggplant
  • Leeks
  • Lettuce
  • Mint
  • Onions
  • Parsley
  • Parsnips
  • Peppers
  • Squash
  • Sweet Potatoes

It’s quite the paradox, we know, but some ethylene producers can also be ethylene sensitive. “One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch” really does hold true if said apples are stored in a bag or a closed container, effectively trapping the very gasses they give off, leading to speedier ripening.

So how does this play out in the kitchen? While we’d love if all fruits and veggies could get along, these are some of our favorite produce combos that shouldn’t be stored near each other:

  • Apples and Avocados
  • Bananas and Mangoes
  • Tomatoes and Cucumbers
  • Potatoes and Onions
  • Broccoli and Peppers

Sources:

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Comments (20)

Oh no, Linda! We’re sorry to read this, and we’d hate to see you go. Our service is super flexible, so you’re welcome to order weekly, monthly, or one time only (though we hope you love us and want to continue receiving high-quality, sustainably sourced groceries regularly!).

If you’d like to pause or cancel your membership, please log in and visit your account page here: https://www.misfitsmarket.com/account. Then, click “Manage Account.” On the right side of the page, you’ll be able to change your membership preferences—preferred delivery day, billing information, and shipping address. Or, scroll down to “need a break?” to skip, pause, or cancel.

That said, we strive to make managing and even canceling your membership as easy as possible, so please feel free to check out our help center article regarding how to cancel your membership: https://help.misfitsmarket.com/en_us/what-is-your-cancellation-policy-By7GWws8v.

If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team by filling out our contact form here: https://www.misfitsmarket.com/contact-us. Our team is always happy to help!

I love your very ethical practice of not auto-charging when someone may have never even looked at their order. This is why I switched over from “another box”. If you can’t afford it this week, just don’t shop this week. Thank you! ????

What a helpful article!!

My name is Kristen and I’m a MBA student at Fuqua (Duke) doing a marketing research project on Misfits Markets. First off, my teammates and I have become customers and brand advocates during the course of researching for this project! We think you’re awesome both in idea and also in execution!! Is there anyone on the marketing team that we can reach out to for a few questions?
Either way, thanks for the awesome grocery service and tips on keeping that produce fresh!

Hi, Kristen. Thank you so much for stopping by! We appreciate your kind words and interest, and we’re so glad to hear you and your teammates have enjoyed learning about our mission-driven company. Please reach out to us with your questions using the email, marketing@misfitsmarket.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

I’ve really enjoyed all the products. The flexibility to change delivery options is also great! Thank you for all the information in your newsletters. I’ve learned a lot of information that I didn’t know about certain products. Keep up the great work!

We’re thrilled to hear you’re loving them, Denise! We appreciate your kind words and continued support. ????️

Fantastic question, Rose! Thank you for your interest! By joining Misfits Market, you unlock access to seasonal organic produce and high-quality, sustainably-sourced groceries at prices up to 40% less than you would find at traditional grocery stores.

There is no membership fee to join or maintain, you only have to meet the order minimum of $30. Your order can be edited at any time throughout your shopping window and will be charged after your shopping window ends. Then, your order will be delivered right to your home within 2-3 days for a flat rate by zip code that starts at $6.99 per order (no matter how big the order is!) plus any taxes applicable for your area.

Also, our free membership is very flexible: we offer the option to skip your order, pause, or completely cancel whenever you like. You’re welcome to order weekly, monthly, or one time only (though we hope you love us and want to continue receiving high-quality, sustainably sourced groceries!). Feel free to let us know if you have additional questions, and we hope you will consider joining us sometime soon!

Great idea, Lori! We will have to pass this suggestion along to our team. Thank you!

Well, I’ve been storing onions and potatoes together my whole adult life and this explains a lot! ????

My first order was great! We can taste the difference in the meats and veggies. Hubby surprisingly enjoyed the organic milk. Will be ordering again. I like that you can order when you want and not like a subscription.
Shakirah

I have not shopped physically for groceries since I found you many months ago! Nor have I had anything “misfit”. Every item has been excellent. I build my meals around what you have available that week and/or what I have in my budget to spend. Also a lot of other companies could learn from how well you pkg items for shipping. Love you guys!!!

Love this article! I love how informative and approachable the language is. I love the writing style; it’s engaging and insightful at the same time. I’m so happy I’m subscribed to misfits market. From a genuine fan girl!

Aw, thanks for these kind words, Deinfa! We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed reading this post. We truly appreciate you for sharing this great feedback. Thank you so much for your support! ????

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