Nutritious, bright red, and sweet, fresh strawberries have been continuously arriving at fruit shops, farmers' markets, and supermarkets in recent days. They are sold loose, in boxes, and some are even labeled as "organic fruit".
"Ma Dasao" (a colloquial term for a housewife) picks up a bag while shopping, and office workers buy a box after work. The consumption of strawberries is growing daily. Yan Weizhong, a senior agronomist at the Municipal Agricultural Technology Promotion Service Center, based on some market observations, advises strawberry-loving citizens not to buy deformed strawberries, not to blindly trust the "organic" label, and not to soak strawberries when washing them.
Do not buy deformed strawberries
Shanghai's market carries both locally grown and imported strawberries. Normally grown strawberries are heart-shaped. Some imported products are brightly colored and large, but have deformed bumps on the surface. Their taste is relatively bland, and they are often hollow in the center. These deformed strawberries are often the result of the misuse of hormones during cultivation. Long-term and excessive consumption of such fruit can potentially harm human health. Pregnant women and children, in particular, should not eat deformed strawberries.
Do not blindly trust "organic"
The production and processing of organic strawberries involve no chemical fertilizers or pesticides, leaving no pesticide residue on the fruit. The production, processing, and final product must be certified by the State Environmental Protection Administration and are subject to routine monitoring. Some strawberry growers unilaterally claim an "organic" status and even assert that their products can be eaten without washing. Such claims should not be trusted blindly. Moreover, whether organic or not, all strawberries should be washed before consumption.
Wash strawberries, do not soak them
Choose strawberries with a bright color, uniform shape, and fresh green leaves on the top; strawberries that are pale or bluish are unripe. If there are white or gray spots, it indicates disease, and these must be picked out and discarded before washing. When cleaning, first remove the leaves, but do not cut off the green leafy top. Most importantly, do not soak them in water. If strawberries with their tops removed are soaked, any pesticide residue on them can be absorbed into the fruit, leading to greater contamination.