Do you know those things that spray water on fruits and vegetables at the supermarket? Well, those things are called produce misters, and they’re responsible for keeping the fruits and vegetables hydrated, fresh, and looking good.

Before they were invented, a ton of produce had to be tossed out daily — which was a terrible waste of food and contributed to global warming. Luckily, produce misters were invented in the late 1970s, and they have kept our fruits and veggies in top condition ever since. We can celebrate this invention by observing National Produce Misting Day on October 2nd every year.

The History of National Produce Misting Day

National Produce Misting Day is a holiday that was created in 2018 by the Corrigan Corporation of America. They wanted to share the story of the engineering that makes misting produce possible. Jack Corrigan established the first patents for an automatic produce misting system in 1979, and it’s been used in grocery stores ever since.

Amazing Produce Facts

We’ve come across some interesting facts about produce that we think are perfect for discussing on National Produce Misting Day. So, let’s check out the following facts about produce while they’re still dewy and fresh.

• Adding salt to pineapple chunks can make them taste sweeter.
• Even the rind of a watermelon is edible.
• Oranges are sold in red bags because they make the color of the fruit look deeper.
• Peaches and nectarines are actually the same fruit; nectarines just aren’t fuzzy.
• Potatoes and tomatoes are both members of the nightshade family.
• There are over 7,500 different varieties of apples.

Observing National Produce Misting Day

It’s easy enough to celebrate this holiday. All you have to do is head to your local grocery store and see how the automatic produce misting system works. Or, you can learn more about the history of this invention. It’s your choice. While celebrating this holiday, just be sure to use the hashtag #NationalProduceMistingDay to spread the word about this holiday on social media.