How to Choose Fresh Fruits and Veggies for Less Waste and More Flavor 🍏🥕🥦 | Sustainability Tips 🌿🌎

[@AsliAltintop-q2r]

Hi Refika, we live outside of our homeland more than 20 years and are watching your videos at home with my family to introduce our culture to our kids. You are amazing. We love your videos ❤

[@Refika]

What a lovely message, thank you so much! It makes me so happy to hear that you’re watching the videos with your family and sharing our culture. ❤️

[@Frederic1406]

Super informative, in fact cooking is not so much about the recipes but about understanding the ingredients, they each have their individuality and characteristics. Thanks!!!

[@Refika]

Absolutely! Understanding ingredients makes all the difference. Thank you for your insight!

[@z2arshad]

No one talks about these!! This is such incredible information! Thank you!

[@sanchiagoosen8963]

This is an outstanding idea for a series - thank you!

[@deniseferron3397]

We here in Canada still waste an awful lot of food, so Turkey’s not alone. Bravo on this new series. I’ll be watching them all!!

[@Refika]

Thank you so much for your support! It's true, food waste is a global issue, but every step counts. I’m glad you’ll be watching - hope you enjoy the series!

[@MrLcowles]

So as a Canadian you know that this advice is almost completely useless.

[@xa1531]

In Canada, 47% of food waste happens at home; meaning more than half of food waste happens before it gets to consumers. It is a good idea to grow our own foods as well as focusing on other local sources. I think community gardens and community kitchens will be important to reduce food waste because even the ugly fruits can be processed. If you like to make soup, using veggie scraps to make veggie broth is a great way to reduce food waste. My cousin likes to put any scraps in the freezer and when she has enough scraps, she makes some broth.

[@AndreaJoussen]

Brilliant idea to share all those tips looking forward to the coming episodes 😊

[@Refika]

Thank you! I'm glad you like the idea.😊

[@rose5566]

Great idea ! So many people are not aware of the best and most efficient way to store food. I’d like to see how and what can be frozen and refrigerated properly. Such as herbs, etc.

[@evidhazelbower1527]

Thank you so much, Refika and crew. Your videos are wonderful -- not only sharing delicious food and teaching us how to create it but your generous heart and kindness and love shines through everything. Thank you from Canada and around the world !

[@kadir8296]

What a beautiful view from the window.

[@elianevdb]

Love this new series, Refika! This is really great! I am looking forward to your next épisode. It is always great to learn how to make the most of what you have.

[@Refika]

Thank you so much for your lovely message! I'm glad you’re enjoying the series. Hope you find the next episodes just as inspiring.

[@sandya2948]

You and your team have such big hearts. You are making an impactful difference with your educational and entertaining videos. Thank-you🫶

[@Refika]

Thank you for your kind words! 🫶

[@fabalize6067]

I am so crazy about your videos. Everytime I learn something new. Thank you so much.

[@Jjj333ke]

What a great video series Refika! I can’t wait to learn more. Our grandparents had lots of wisdom, and some new “nerdy inventions” will be great to learn too! I often wonder how our grandparents stored certain things before plastic. Looking forward to learning more! ❤

[@exploreschristenacademy9646]

Refika, this is a great video, very well done, learned a lot about picking great produce. a complement video that I would love to see is how to use old produce and how to store it longer, so we don't throw so much food out. I know I'm so busy I don't always have a change to use up my great produce. some times I just don't know when its ok to still eat so it ends up in the compost.

[@Refika]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m glad you found the video helpful. Your feedback is appreciated!

[@madelainedaley2128]

This will be a fantastic series.

[@lindamuentener3362]

I've watched many of your recipe videos and enjoyed every one of them. This new channel, this is brilliant. Some of your recommendations, my family and experiences taught me; others are new; both are appreciated. The ending bit about food banks in your country is eye-opening to someone like me. Food trucks that can move to areas of need. Not everyone does it that way. Thanks for everything you're creating and sharing.

[@johnsmith-ds5yt]

What a great idea!! Love your cooking vids, looking forward to the sustainability ones 👍

[@ramonajordan3875]

I love this! I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

[@Refika]

Thnak uuuu

[@newplaceusedbooks3797]

Valuable information; thank you for this video

[@margakat]

This is great! A much needed series

[@Refika]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you think so.

[@healthylivingwisdom7771]

Wonderful video!! Small suggestion, can you make shorts of each vegetable so I can watch to remind me of these tips at the grocery store? Please?

[@mariegulferica788]

Very informative thank you ❤

[@fatimasajjad6901]

An informative vlog shukria

[@greatboniwanker]

All the info I never got about fruits & vegetables lovingly & professionally delivered by my favorite world community creator and chef!

[@Refika]

Thank you so much! I’m thrilled to hear you found the info helpful. ❤️

[@sajida9643]

Excellent series idea. So informative! Thank you❤

[@hukuaustria]

Thank you for this video❤

[@Refika]

You’re welcome! I’m so glad you liked it! ❤

[@oliveoilpantry]

Hello my sweetheart, 🌸 getting ready to open my restaurant later this month!! 🙏🙏🙏 You have inspired me!! 🥰😘🌸 Love you and your sweet staff!! ❤️

[@Refika]

Thank you so much! That’s amazing - best of luck with your restaurant! Sending love and support your way.

[@oliveoilpantry]

Thank you 🙏😘🌸❤️​@@Refika

[@candaceclunie9579]

Lovely initiative

[@hafsamaryam9281]

Hey, thank you soo much for starting this series. It's very helpful.. Please continue it and also how to store them for longer time ... Loved your videos 😊

[@nonpathogenicb4183]

very informative, very thoughtful series! thank you for all you do! we love you

[@buketkeen1275]

These are really necessary information for our health thanks for your concern 🤗💐👍🇹🇷💖

[@Refika]

Thank you! I'm glad you found it helpful. Your health is so important! 🤗💖

[@agniK1060]

Very important topic, thank you for this video ❤

[@Ladythyme]

Excellent! Very informative and helpful! Thank you!

[@murraylynn7631]

This was really interesting. While I already apply much of it to my shopping, I did learn some new things.

[@Refika]

I’m so glad you found it interesting! It’s great to hear you already apply some tips. Thanks for watching!

[@redlady37]

Thank you, Refika for sharing your valuable knowledge with us. These tips are so important as the cost of food rises everywhere. Making good choices with our money and having the knowledge to do so is greatly appreciated.

[@barbaracombs9280]

Love your video. We have a great food bank in our area that distributes food to the needy. Many supermarkets and farms donate to them.

[@scottyg9167]

All I can say is. You are awesome for bringing this awareness to the world. The amount of stuff thrown away here in the US is disgusting, all because people either don’t know or they’re coupled into thinking something is crap if it doesn’t look perfect. Your video here illustrates a lot of excellent lessons: don’t fall for waxed apples, chemically reddened tomatoes etc. so, thank you!

[@sistahleah2025]

I sure appreciate this learning six months in turkey 🇹🇷 away from usa 🇺🇸 almost four years I need this thank you blessings 🎉

[@skrobisz_]

great video, thank you Refika and the Team! though I try to be mindful myself and produce little waste, I still learned new tips. please keep them coming :)

[@Refika]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you found some new tips! 😊

[@hegemonys]

LIke this new series. Make more such videos. Especially, how to use different vegetables in dishes.

[@Refika]

Thank you! I'm glad you like the new series! Stay tuned! 😊

[@malihaasalati4537]

🎉🎉So excited for the new series! So so needed for those of us in Urban US areas who are far from nature and do not know the basics that most of the world knows intuitively. ❤❤❤

[@moiatashi]

Thank you for talking about heritage tomatoes, GMOs, and oranges :)

[@cherieburger15]

Love, Love, ❤️ Love.... thank you 😊

[@Refika]

❤️

[@davidbennett9691]

This is very good information. We have been trained by the supermarket chains to look for all the wrong things in fruit and vegetables.

[@Christinaanncat]

❤ To entire team ❤

[@Refika]

❤

[@ifafarrukh734]

I'm so excited for this series! So incredibly useful for every day.

[@thomascuddihy2933]

Hello Lovely Woman Love your work Keep the faith Love your recipes Your camera work Presentation And The food Now educational Wise Info Have a great day From Thomas In 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland

[@Refika]

Thank you so much, Thomas! Glad you’re enjoying the recipes and videos. Greetings to Scotland!

[@despinadespina4552]

I just find your channel, and I LIKE IT. 👍 👍 👍😊 I AM GOING to look for your cooking Now 😂❤😊

[@ritalangenfelds7801]

Thank you! Excellent information as we do waste too much food.

[@elisabetta4478]

Food waste is a serious issue across the globe. Many humans think wasting food or buying excess food items as a matter of prestige, but it is actually not. To go every seed and plant it requires plenty of watering and chemical manuring, and it produces green gas, which is causing global warming and climate change. Therefore, thanks a lot, Refika and crew, for diffusing awareness to everyone on this sensitive topic ❤

[@Refika]

Thankuuuuu 🙏😘

[@ladybuggriffis2299]

Thank you so much for your videos. I have learned so much from this video still much to be learned. God bless and be safe.🐞🦬🥰🐢

[@Refika]

Thank you for your kind words! I’m so happy to hear that the videos have been helpful. Wishing you all the best and stay safe! 🥰

[@angemc5151]

Good and educational video, thank you Refika!

[@nasimjetha939]

Thank you for a very informative video. I can’t wait for your video on growing things from store bought produce. Much love and appreciation from Nairobi, Kenya

[@Refika]

They will come one by one..

[@steveh7866]

Great message. I was brought up thinking every grain of rice is precious. I think the further away from the soil people are and the more food is packaged for convenience, the more young people see it as just another disposible commodity

[@lauraellen189]

This video was so helpful!! 🙏🏼

[@Refika]

❤️

[@Khadeejahraja]

Bless you Refika! ❤❤❤

[@violetviolet888]

1:38 *Produce manager here.* This is absolutely NOT Ok. *This behavior is NOT TO BE RECOMMENDED OR ENCOURAGED.* Not only is it compromising the integrity of the produce, it is unsanitary and literally creating an open wound that is susceptible to bacteria which exponentially increases the rate of deterioration that leads to MOLD and ROT. If someone came to you and scraped away your healthy skin to smell you, how would you feel? Use your eyes, gently squeeze to feel firmness but do NOT scratch any produce. We would have to put that compromised produce you intentionally scratched into a trash bing to go directly into a landfill. We don't need any more food waste in the would than there already is.

[@lisaeastes3104]

Hello from Savannah ga. ( USA) Thank you for the info ❤

[@skronkel]

Yess I love this! As I improved as a home cook, I got more into grocery shopping as well. It’s become a sport to find the best and seasonal ingredients and to choose what to cook based on those.

[@hermavanbrakel7413]

Love this item

[@erinzeb]

Great series idea!

[@Refika]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you like it.

[@elizabethuy7613]

I can’t wait to see your next video!!!

[@CMDRSloma]

Best thing is to grow your own, then you'll learn how to recognize fresh and not fresh. Nothing beats the taste of home-grown. Growing your own means making your own compost, which means nothing gets wasted (except for dairy and meats to some extent)

[@Refika]

Absolutely! Growing your own food is the best way to learn about freshness and enjoy amazing flavors.

[@elizabethuy7613]

Refika, buy all of the goos foods, because of you I’m feed in my kids healthy, and great foods

[@stephaniesmith7317]

Great information! Thank you it helps when someone reminds you of things you already know.

[@BeFrlz]

Absolutely brilliant 👌

[@elizabethuy7613]

This Is so helpful! I love watching your videos, The background through the window is super pretty, I love you God bless you❤❤

[@susanproctor7512]

What an incredible amount of useful information!

[@wktodd]

Know your onions! (like Refika)

[@rebeccahenkins1697]

Good Info but here in US there are rarely any flowers on the vegetables and what you show here is called a baby LOL All the tips for choosing vegetables for fresh - it makes sense in the US the grocery stores do not keep these many parts and bag many so you can’t smell or touch. This is what I LOVED in Türkiye - the vegetable markets everywhere not to mention the huge ones weekly! MashaAllah! I need to find more fresh markets on weekends here. One only grocery that tends to have the best fruits and even those leave a lot to be desired! Thank you - I ca’t wait to hear this whole series!!

[@semavetnega3396]

Refika,Iˋm so proud of you. Good work 👏 Morcoteden selamlar❤

[@CapaPino]

Hi Refika, I found this channel to make some food for my Turkish girlfriend. It is so nice to see also such useful and eco friendly materials. Keep the good work up !!!

[@premameha7057]

I salute your initiative and dedication - God Bless you and your team ... just the thing we need to go towards - living sustainably ... worldwide. Thank you for sharing 🌍💝I'm surely subscribed 🤗

[@Марта-й7е]

Рефика, напълно те подкрепям. За съжаление в България, където зеленчуците и плодовете много поскъпнаха последните години, и съответно се купуват по-малко, се изхвърлят от търговците, когато се развалят. Но няма практика да се предлагат на по-ниска цена или дори да се дарят на хората в нужда. Това важи за супермаркетите и малките пазари. Разхищение, което не приемам. Моето семейство не изхвърля никаква храна, купува се в разумни количества и се съхранява правилно. Не е въпрос с колко пари разполагаш, а уважение към хранителни ресурси, които не трябва да се похабяват. Сърдечни поздрави!

[@sans2domicilefixroberts428]

👍 Great 💞 😊 thank you 🤗 🍀 💕

[@achmatcassiem6602]

Great work❤

[@MissBabalu102]

Wonderful information here, things Grandma never taught me. I always buy less beautiful apples, less perfect. Carrots are so confusing to me, why?

[@simont.b.2660]

Thank you.

[@GamzeMutfakta]

Tam da zamanı şöyle güzel bir zeytinyağlı lahana dolması tarifi isteriz..

[@mommabee8187]

New subscriber here from Philippines

[@dharmakaurkhalsa3923]

Great info. Thank you

[@Refika]

❤️

[@lilmonster90210]

very interesting insights. editimg team, breaking down the video in chapters would have been great !

[@troffaamra4289]

How can we know if the banana is genetically modified or not? (In the shop, before you can open it and smell it at home). Great video and very useful! Thanks!!

[@montygates8767]

thank you

[@guneeym]

❤❤

[@filizdoganyenilmez6484]

❤

[@helenswan705]

This is great. I immediately subscribe. But I don't agree about the old and new potatoes.

[@marisolflorezborges2992]

Very good

[@artistlovepeace]

Thanks!

[@Refika]

❤

[@thebandplayedon..6145]

Fantastic, so thorough! Rafika, my Aunt is coming there to visit from Canada in a couple weeks, I would love to send her to your shop if she'll be in the area, may I have the address? Thanks, take care, all. ❤

[@thebandplayedon..6145]

*Refika, sorry, yt won't let me edit the spelling in my comment.

[@Refika]

Thank you! Our shop is located in Kuzguncuk. Hope she has a great visit! Take care! ❤

[@FoodCult-Artproject]

whooow 🤩

[@nicolaruston]

How do you get the wax off the fruit?

[@OstropoloS]

Some correct information, some wrong information. I grow cucumbers and tomatoes, for the matte finish, it's just variety, and for the flowers on the cucumbers, the flowers die when the cucumber is pollinated, and when it's dry, it falls off. If it's still on there, it's just by chance or the cucumber is still growing. It tastes better for you because cucumbers taste better when they're younger, so that variety is supposed to grow 2x the size (at least) of that cucumber with the flower still on it intact, just means it's younger I'm guessing. Also planting those onions that shallow will grow you not a new onion, but new roots lol, unless you like 1 cm big onions

[@chickadeeacres3864]

What’s with the green pepper photo? I recognize that image from a false claim about telling male from female peppers hahahaha!

[@trixfox45]

My dad has a shop he really likes to do the weekend shopping with me at. Most veggies and greens are already bad,perhaps even moldy, even witnessed some with flies already. For a while the meat section would have mold on it as well until they eventually fixed that section. Yet my dad still goes there all the time and mocks me when I check the veggies and greens for my bunnies for too long in his opinion. More than once he has bought bad greens, so they could instantly go into the trash. Just money wasted and less food for the bunnies...

[@oxoelfoxo]

if you're scoring a fruit or veg to test it, i hope you're taking that piece and buying it even if it's not the quality you want and not putting it back for others to get what you damaged

[@tigerdeer]

Sorry, in Australia we can't afford veggies any more. Cost of living crisis. :(

[@Refika]

Ooooo … our situation is very similar plus we have the social political crisis of relegious goverment- hope goodness will win someday soon

[@mariagillinson8527]

Refika love your new series but you talk too fast! I couldn’t keep up!

[@mysteriousu5528]

In US, every year, $160B worth of food is wasted. Let that sink in.

[@NN-fz4pd]

How does buying shallow stem tomatoes vs deep stem tomatoes save food waste from happening?

[@Refika]

Great question! Shallow stem tomatoes are often harvested at the right time and have a longer shelf life, which means less waste. Deep stem tomatoes may be picked too early or too late, leading to spoilage. Choosing the right ones helps ensure we enjoy them longer!