Why do strawberries from the store last longer than strawberries from the farm?

One reason strawberries from the store usually last longer than strawberries picked from a local farm is due to the variety of strawberry grown, says MSU Extension's Beth Waitrovich.

One reason strawberries from the store usually last longer than strawberries picked from a local farm is due to the variety of strawberry grown. The store-bought strawberry is a firmer berry but (in my opinion), not as sweet and juicy. The strawberries from the farm are picked much riper than the strawberries that are picked to be shipped. Strawberries do not ripen further after picking. 

There is a study comparing the taste of Oregon strawberries to California strawberries. Note that the strawberries are different varieties for each state. 

Why is the expiration date or period longer on lactose-free milk than regular milk?

Lactose-free milk frequently is pasteurized using ultra-high temperature (UHT) pasteurization versus the regular pasteurization process, thus making it last longer than regular milk. The UHT pasteurization process takes the milk to a much higher temperature (280° F, for a minimum of two seconds) which kills off more than bacteria than the regular pasteurized milk. The regular milk is pasteurized at a temperature of 161° F for a minimum 15 seconds or 145° F for 30 minutes.

Source: Cornell University Department of Food Science Dairy Foods Science Notes

Beth Waitrovich is a food safety educator for MSU Extension.

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