In the fruit and vegetable product industry, chlorine is commonly used to remove microbes such as bacteria and mold from produce. In the home, a water wash, either with or without the help of a produce brush, is typically used to clean fruits and vegetables.
57 ALPINE ZONE The alpine zone occurs in high mountain areas where the mean annual precipitation is above 41 inches and the RET is the lowest in the state (Figure 7.6). These areas occur above the upper timber line. The vegeta-tion consists mainly of small cushion plants on rocky slopes.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone Map divides North America into 11 zones. Each zone is 10 degrees warmer or cooler than its adjacent zones. Zones 6 to 10 cover the Southeastern United States. Zones are determined by average lowest winter temperatures and indicate which plants can survive the winter.