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Colette & Cassi's Country Kitchen!

Am I the only one who is noticing a big jump in the price of fresh produce these days? Whatever the reason behind those escalating prices, I find myself searching for more and better ways to make the produce I buy remain fresher longer.

I certainly don't intend for the lettuce to turn brown and the strawberries to grow hair. And, oh, the pain of throwing them into the garbage. For me, that is like tossing out dollar bills. It hurts.

Fortunately, there are storage tips and tricks that will allow us to milk every last hour of goodness from fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs.

BUY SENSIBLY: Just because it's a great sale doesn't necessarily mean you should buy twice as much. It's better to buy less and return more often than throw industrial-size containers of blueberries or jumbo bags of avocados gone bad into the trash. Listen to your head, not your stomach, when shopping for produce.

SEPARATION: Many items do better when kept in their own space. Apples, for example, will keep longer if they are not touching one another. Keep fruits away from vegetables by putting them in separate refrigerator drawers or dry storage, where potatoes and onions are kept. Many fruits emit ethylene, which can cause vegetables to rot prematurely.

MIMICK THE STORE: Don't know if you should refrigerate the tomatoes or potatoes? Follow the produce manager's lead. Potatoes are always out in the open at room temperature. Tomatoes, however, are usually in the coolers. By the way, store tomatoes stem-side down, the end that ripens last and is most firm. Opt for tomatoes on the vine when given a choice. They are grown in water and less apt to have been exposed to bacteria.

LETTUCE: Tear off all the leaves, wash them separately and spin dry. Wrap loosely in dry paper towels and refrigerate in a vented or open plastic bag. To freshen wilted lettuce leaves, dunk them in ice water to which you have added 2 tablespoons lemon juice and refrigerate for at least two hours before use. If you wish to store a whole head of lettuce, place it in a plastic bag with a dry paper towel. Use within one week.

DON'T WASH: Blueberries, strawberries, potatoes, carrots -- most produce -- will do better if you store it unwashed. Water hastens the ripening process, causing items to start rotting much sooner.

INVEST: If you can't find a way to buy less produce at a time, consider investing in a vacuum-sealing machine for home use. If you keep it on the counter and readily accessible -- and use it religiously -- it will pay for itself in short order. Another item I use and highly recommend:

FresherLonger Miracle Food Storage containers. I have the complete set and have been using the containers for about six months. This is no hoax. Food in these containers really does last much longer because they reduce the growth of mold and fungus. Available only at Sharper Image stores (www.sharperimage.com), the complete set is $70, and a four-piece starter set is about $30.