Clean Water

• You should always wash fresh produce, such as celery, even if it's labeled organic. Wash your hands with soap and water before handling raw produce. Hold the celery under running water for 20 to 30 seconds, and rub it or scrub it gently with a vegetable brush. Don't use soap, detergents or commercial products for washing produce. Just clean water does the trick.

Chemical Residues

• Celery certified as organic is guaranteed to be free of certain synthetic pesticides and herbicides, but that doesn't mean that it hasn't been treated with organic products. Organic pesticides are derived from natural materials, such as plants, and they typically break down quickly in the soil. But these pesticides are not necessarily harmless, and you don't want to eat them. Rotenone, for example, is derived from two types of legumes. It is used on many vegetables to control thrips, aphids, beetles and caterpillars. It is moderately toxic to mammals, including people. Additionally, celery may come in contact with pesticides drifting from other fields, or in transport from field to market.

Keep It Safe

• Celery, and other fresh produce, should be washed to remove dirt from the field, as well as dust picked up as it's harvested and packaged. Washing also helps reduce the risk of foodborne illness associated with bacteria. Salmonella and other bacteria can come in contact with field produce through manure fertilizers or contaminated water. Although washing produce won't destroy all bacteria, it reduces your chances of getting sick.

Hints for Success

• Washing organic celery is the last step in keeping it fresh and safe. Buy celery and other fresh produce from reputable farmers markets and stores. Keep the celery in the refrigerator. Avoid celery that's bruised or shows signs of mold and decay. At the checkout, make sure raw produce is bagged separately from raw meat to reduce the risk of cross contamination. Refrigerate the celery as soon as you get it home and use it within a week.