Retail Price Computing Scales Information » produce

Simple Way To Clean Produce

admin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:53:41 +0000

We all need fresh produce. It tastes good and it is good for you. However with all the pesticides and other particles that are located on the outside of the fruits and vegetables, the benefits can be reduced or can even cause you more harm than good. But there is an easy way to clean your produce. Most people think running fruit under water for a few seconds gets the job done. Not quite.

Frozen blueberries were found to have the highest organophosphate residue at 28%, with strawberries coming in at a close second at 25%. Celery had a 19% contamination rate. How do we protect ourselves from pesticide contamination? Here are some helpful hints. If possible, buy local and organic. Even if you do, make sure to still peal your fruit when you have the option. For fruits and vegetables that can’t be peeled (like strawberries and celery), make sure you wash them thoroughly. See whole article here

Ohaus Retail Scales Offer Brand Name Quality

admin — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:13:48 +0000

Designed from the ground up as a portable retail scale with a small footprint and battery power, the RA combines a bright, backlit LCD display on front and back of the housing with a 7.9 X 11.4 inch stainless steel pan. The RA can be powered by 6 “D” cell batteries for up to 60 hours continuous use, or using the included AC powerpack. To conserve power the RA has a battery-saving low-power sleep feature. NTEP 3,000d certified, the RA offers 2 models in either 15 or 30 lb capacities. Great for use in farmer’s markets, delis, bakeries and other retail locations where space is a premium.

For use with larger packages or for use in delis, grocery and convenience stores, the OHAUS RE price computing scale features a large 9.5 x 13.5 inch weighing pan made from thick stainless steel to stand-up to years of use. Available in both a regular form factor as well as with a 16.7 inch tall column for the display, the RE line quickly displays weights on its large backlit LED display. All RE models can be powered by 6 “D” cell batteries for up to 60 hours continuous use with a easily visible battery status indicator, or using the included AC powerpack. To conserve power the RA has a battery-saving low-power sleep feature. The RE is available in two 30 lb models – one with the column – as well as a 60 lb model without column. The Prepack Pricing mode is a key feature for stores who price-out larger runs of items, especially for smaller stores and delis.

Storing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

admin — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 13:56:39 +0000

On this blog, we focus on scales for weighing produce. However, we also like to consume fresh produce and are always looking for ways to prolong the freshness of our favorite fruits and vegetables. We all like fresh produce, but how can we keep it fresh longer? ”How you store fruits and vegetables will impact how fresh your produce will stay,” says Erin Palinski, RD, a registered dietitian in private practice in northern New Jersey. Below are some food storage tips for common fruits and vegetables from Everyday Health. Click the Everyday Health link to read the entire article.

Apples: At room temperature for up to seven days or refrigerated in a plastic bag if you won’t eat them that quickly.
Bananas: At room temperature, both ripe and unripe.
Grapefruit: At room temperature for one week or refrigerated for up to two or three weeks.
Peaches: At room temperature in a paper bag if unripe; remove from the bag when ripe and eat within a day or two.
Strawberries: Refrigerated for one to three days without washing.
Oranges: At room temperature for a day or two or refrigerated for up to one or two weeks.
Broccoli: Refrigerated for three to five days.
Carrots: Refrigerated, stored in a plastic bag with the green tops cut off.
Iceberg lettuce: Refrigerated in a plastic bag after rinsing and drying.
Tomatoes: At room temperature, out of direct sunlight — they quickly lose their taste if refrigerated.

Another important point mentioned in the article is the following regarding storing your produce in one bowl:

Don’t pile all your fruits and veggies together in one bowl — they can cause each other to spoil. “Keep quick-ripening vegetables away from foods like avocados, cantaloupe, tomatoes, pears, and apricots,” says Palinski. “These items emit ethylene, a gas that can cause nearby vegetables to spoil more quickly.” Most apples also emit this gas.

Commercial Scales for the Farmers Market Can Cost over $400

admin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:31:24 +0000

Legal for Trade Commercial scales can cost well over $400, but if you do a little research, you won’t pay near that much for a set of high quality farmers market scales. Yes, you could get away with using a set of “household” scales, either hanging or digital, but that is ultimately not the way to establish trust and legitimacy with your customer who is buying produce from you.

Do some research and buy a legal for trade price computing scale that can be certified by the state. In most states it is a requirement. However, sometimes due to budget restraints and manpower, merchants get the idea that they can get away with not purchasing a legal for trade scale. Sometimes every now and then you hear comments from sellers of fruit and vegetables who sell produce at farmers markets, that they don’t worry about bending the rules of the State Weights and Measures Department. The thought process basically being, “we are not a priority for the Department of Agriculture.” Need proof, take a look at the article below

On most summer Saturdays, the Florence-Lauderdale Farmers Market is packed with vendors, but market manager Thurston Harper fears a state crackdown will prevent many farmers from selling at the market. An inspector from the Alabama Department of Agriculture visited the market in late May to test the accuracy of scales farmers use to weigh fruits and vegetables. Harper said the inspector told farmers they must begin using scales certified for commercial use. Read more

Label Printing Scales for sale

admin — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 02:16:27 +0000

The CL5000 Label Printing Scale has the functions you need at an affordable price. Includes CL-Works software package. Use in supermarkets, specialty stores, deli’s and more! For a limited time, earn a $50 gift card for each label printing scale purchased. Contact Central Carolina Scale for more info.

Produce Safety is a must

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:19:07 +0000

Harmful bacteria that may be in the soil or water where produce grows may come in contact with the fruits and vegetables and contaminate them. Or, fresh produce may become contaminated after it is harvested, such as during preparation or storage. Eating contaminated produce (or fruit and vegetable juices made from contaminated produce) can lead to foodborne illness, which can cause serious – and sometimes fatal – infections. However, it’s easy to help protect yourself and your family from illness by following these safe handling tips for produce.

Dual Range Capacity Price Computing Scale

admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:34:34 +0000

CAS S2000JR60L NTEP legal for trade 60 lb. price computing scale features AC and rechargeable battery power, serial port, LCD display and is ideal weighing choice for everything from fudge and chocolate shoppes selling candy by the pound to local farmers market produce stands selling vegetables and fruit by the price per pound.

The S-2000 JR scales feature a “dual range” capacity. This is a nice feature that means you get increased readability that you probably wouldn’t get on most other price computing scales. For example on a 60 pound capacity price computing scale from most other manufacturers, the scale will increment up/down from zero to 60 pounds in 0.02 lb increments. The 60 lb. S2000 JR displays weight from zero to 30 lbs in increments up/down in 0.01 lbs. Then from 30 to 60 lbs, the scale will increment up/down in 0.02 lb increments. Add a DLP-50 label printer and you have an affordable price computing scale with label printer.

Hanging Produce scales are a thing of the past

admin — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:31:57 +0000

If you stop and think about it, you’ve seen them at the farmer’s market, the deli, even the grocery store. Digital Produce scales that allow vendors to easily weigh their fruits and vegetables and charge their customers by the pound. In the past, many of these produce scales were mechanical hanging scales. But lately, more and more farmer’s market vendors are choosing digital produce scales for the market. Why? Because they’re relatively inexpensive, are battery powered, and provide the cost per pound of the fruits and vegetables being sold. Also, the scales are NTEP legal for trade.

These digital produce scales are designed to offer all the functions your business needs, with great features like large, easy-to-use keys on a wipe-clean keypad, highly visible back-lit vendor and customer displays. The scales are easier to program as ever and many even include up to 100 Price Look-Up keys and 12 or so hot-shot keys for fast-moving items.

Actually, one of the biggest expenses you will have when you start selling at farmers’ markets is buying your legal for trade scale. Farmers’ markets are a commercial venue and are, therefore, governed by the same regulations as any commercial establishment that buys and sells based on weight. In other words, if you charge your customer by weight, you must have a “certifiable scale”.

In most states, your Department of Agriculture will inspect and certify your produce scale for farmers markets. Regulation requires the scale be NTEP legal for trade and made for commercial use. A legal-for-trade produce scale will be marked with:

• Class III designation on the identification plate or seal.
• All scales must have an NTEP Cert of Conformance (CoC#)

Scales suitable for farmers’ markets will generally have a 0.05 lb, 0.01 pound or 0.02 lb increments with max capacities of 15, 30 or 60 lbs. Many low cost scales such as “office” scales or baby scales marked “Not Legal for Trade” are not acceptable for selling at farmers markets. We would be happy to provide you with a list of certifiable scales so you do not spend hundreds of dollars only to find you have an uncertifiable scale.