Sage
Sage is identified by its narrow, oval, gray-green leaves. Fresh sage is slightly bitter and has a musty, mint taste and aroma. Depending on the season and the growing cycles, leaves will range from 1.25” to almost 3” in length. Quality herbs should always have a high leaf to stem ratio.

Storage
» Store in the coldest area of the walk-in cooler. Kitchen heat will cause sage to yellow, wilt and lose its flavor.
» Store in the original container and with the original plastic bag in place to protect. Do not stack heavy objects on top of cases to limit the potential of crushing.
» Keep away from drafts from the cooler fan. Exposed sage is highly susceptible to dehydration.
» Product is moderately susceptible to ethylene gas damage. Store away from ethylene producing fruits where possible. Ethylene damage will appear as yellowing and accelerated decay.

Handling
» Follow good rotation practices, first shipments received should be used first.
» Product has a shelf life of approximately 2-3 days. Plan to rotate frequently and purchase for immediate needs.
» Avoid placing the case or raw product on non-sanitized kitchen counter tops to help prevent the potential for cross contamination.
» Limit the time the product is out of refrigeration, do not allow the unused product to reach room temperature.

Preparation
» Sage is often field-packed and should be rinsed prior to preparation
» Store prepped product immediately into refrigeration (covered) upon completion of the prep.