INSIDE & OUT : In the Bag

Picking fruit and vegetables at their peak isn’t difficult, but keeping them fresh until you’re ready to eat them is another matter.

Now, ripe for the picking, are PEAKfresh preserving bags, which prolong the life of fruits and vegetables. Frieda’s Inc. in Los Alamitos recently started distributing the bags to local supermarkets.

Most fruits and vegetables release ethylene gas after harvest. This gas speeds up the aging of fruit. PEAKfresh bags absorb and remove the gas, slowing the process.

The bags also have an anti-fogging treatment that minimizes moisture formation and slows the growth of bacteria.

To use the bags (about $3 for a pack of five), cool the produce in the refrigerator, then use a separate bag for each type of fruit or vegetable. The bags are washable and can be reused for up to two months.

Frieda’s Inc., the nation’s leading marketer and distributor of exotic produce, is best known for introducing kiwi to the United States.

To order bags from Frieda’s, call (800) 241-1771.

Silent Suds

Cutting the grease isn’t the only feature of the new Jenn-Air dishwasher.

Jenn-Air goes one step further, using new technology to manufacture one of the quietest wash cycles around.

The Ultimate Quiet Series includes three dishwashers ($530 to $600) with active “noise-cancellation,” a system that muffles motor noises, eliminates irritating high frequencies and buffers the impact of the machine against adjoining surfaces. Instead of the usual loud vibrations and motor noises, all you hear is a soft hum and soothing splashing sounds.

For information, call (800) 536-6247.

Pretty in Pots

If you want to see things in a more romantic light, the moss pot collection by D.L. Rhein of Los Angeles has it covered.

Hand-thrown with a rich clay blend and water-fired in coal kilns, each pot grows moss and algae for an earthy, one-of-a-kind look.

The pots ($8 each) are pre-aged a year in greenhouses before candle making. The beeswax candles contain aromatherapeutic oils such as patchouli, lemon grass, orange and rosemary and should burn at least 25 hours.

The collection is expected in stores by Valentine’s Day. Call (213) 624-7673 for the nearest store.