book for PDF - John Snow International Europe

HarvestingRemember food contains more vitamins if eaten fresh and just afterharvesting. Harvest vegetables at the correct stage, when they are mature.For tomatoes, peppers, chillies or brinjal, inspect each plant and selectonly mature fruit for picking. Do this regularly, every 3-4 days. Rapeand pumpkin leaves can be harvested as needed. Make small regularpickings so that the plant will not be damaged.HandlingDo not bruise or damage the produce. Timing of harvesting is important.For example pick tomatoes when they are slightly green for easierhandling. Wash your hands before harvesting and wash produce in cleanwater. Make sure you do not eat or sell vegetables that have been recentlydosed with pesticides.ProcessingWhere water is scarce we cannot grow vegetables all year round. Thismeans that during the dry season we may lack important vitamins andminerals in our diet.How to have a healthy diet all year round if water is scarce:• grow perennial plants such as cassava, cocoyams, sweet potatoesand moringa which give leaves all year round if watered• grow vegetables such as pumpkin, squash, cassava and sweetpotatoes which produce food that can be stored for long periods• harvest and dry some of the vegetables that are grown duringthe rainy season.73