Spring is upon us, which means delicious new crops of fruits and vegetables will soon be available at local farmer's markets and grocery stores. Roger Clemens, Dr.P.H., C.N.C., F.A.C.N., adjunct professor in the regulatory science program at the USC School of Pharmacy, recommends a few guidelines for safe consumption of produce in any season. First, purchase produce that is not bruised or damaged and bag it separately from meat, poultry or seafood when taking it home from the market. Wash all produce before eating or cooking, even if you plan to peel the produce. "This includes produce grown conventionally or organically at home, or produce purchased from a grocery store or farmer's market," says Clemens. He adds that drying the produce with a clean towel may further reduce bacteria that could be present.
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