Proper Humidity for Storing Fruits & Vegetables
Without the proper level of humidity, vegetables and fruits suffer. Produce that shrinks, wrinkles or spoils quickly likely has been stored in too high or too low humidity.
VEGETABLES
Vegetables needing high relative humidity between 85 percent and 95 percent include asparagus, beets, broccoli and cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, beans, peas, radishes, corn and turnips. Greens, scallions and lettuces also need high humidity, but should be kept separate. Keep things dry, below 85 percent humidity, for pumpkins, squash, onions and garlic.
FRUITS
Fruits that like high humidity include apples, sour cherries, peaches, pears, plums, apricots, avocados and berries, while a medium level is recommended for grapes, sweet cherries, melons and citrus fruits.
The table below indicates optimal moisture condition for some common fruits and vegetables.
Contact Italfog for more information about misting systems to humidify fruits and vegetables.
PRODUCT | Optimal Humidity |
% | |
Apples | 90-95 |
Apricots | 90-95 |
Artichokes | 90-95 |
Asparagus | 95-100 |
Avocados ripe | 85-95 |
Avocados unripe | 85-95 |
Bananas green | 85-95 |
Bananas unripe | 85-95 |
Basil | 90-95 |
Beans dry | 90-95 |
Beans green | 95 |
Blackbarries | 90-95 |
Bluebarries | 90-95 |
Broccoli | 90-95 |
Cabbage | 98-100 |
Cantaloupe | 90-95 |
Carrots | 90-95 |
Cauliflower | 95-98 |
Celery | 98-100 |
Chard | 97-99 |
Cherries | 90-95 |
Chicory | 90-95 |
Coconuts | 80-85 |
Collards | 95-100 |
Corn | 95-98 |
Cucumbers | 95 |
Currants | 95 |
Eggplant | 90-95 |
Endive | 95-100 |
Escarole | 90-95 |
Figs | 90-95 |
Garlic | 65-70 |
Grapefruit | 90-95 |
Grapes | 85 |
Kiwi | 90-95 |
Green peas | 90-95 |
Lemons | 90-95 |
Lettuce | 95-100 |
Onions | 65-75 |
Oranges | 90-95 |
Papayas | 90-95 |
Parsley | 98-100 |
Potatoes | 90-95 |
Precut Fruit | 90-95 |
Precut Vegetables | 90-95 |
Prunes | 90-95 |
Spinach | 95-100 |
Strawberries | 90-95 |