InAmerican English,produce generally refers tofreshfruits andvegetables intended to beeaten by humans, although otherfood products such asdairy products ornuts are sometimes included.[1][2][3][4]
Insupermarkets, the term is also used to refer to the section of the store where fruit and vegetables are kept.Produce is the main product sold bygreengrocers (UK, Australia) andfarmers' markets. The term is widely and commonly used in the U.S. and Canada, but is not typically used outside theagricultural sector in otherEnglish-speaking countries.
Produce may be packaged for transport or sale.
In parts of the world, including the U.S. and Europe, loose pieces of produce, such as apples, may be individually marked with smallstickers bearingprice look-up codes. These four- or five-digit codes are astandardized system intended to aidcheckout andinventory control at places where produce is sold.
Raw sprouts are among the produce most at risk of bacterial infection.[5]
Rinsing is an effective way to reduce the bacteria count on produce, reducing it to about 10 percent of its previous level.[6]
Wastewater used on vegetables can be a source of contamination, due to contamination with fecal matter, salmonella or other bacteria.[7] After Denmark eliminated salmonella in its chickens, attention has turned to vegetables as a source of illness due to feces contamination from other animal sources, such as pigs.[7]
2: agricultural products and especially fresh fruits and vegetables as distinguished from grain and other staple crops
the Food and Drug Administration...is establishing science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce, meaning fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption.
food or other things that have been grown or produced on a farm to be sold
4. Agricultural and natural products collectively, as opposed to manufactured goods.
The dictionary definition ofproduce at Wiktionary
