Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water *before* washing produce to prevent transferring bacteria from your hands to your food.
The primary goal of washing produce is to remove dirt, pesticides, and other contaminants. However, your hands can also carry harmful bacteria and germs. If you wash the produce before washing your hands, you risk transferring these contaminants from your hands onto the fruits and vegetables. Washing your hands first ensures that you're starting with a clean slate, minimizing the risk of contamination. The recommended handwashing technique involves wetting your hands with clean, running water, applying soap, and scrubbing for at least 20 seconds, making sure to clean under your fingernails and between your fingers. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean towel. Only then should you proceed to wash your produce under cool, running water.
For produce with thick skins, like melons or avocados, use a clean scrub brush to help remove dirt and bacteria from the surface before cutting. This prevents transferring contaminants from the rind to the edible portion when you slice into it.