strawberries
 

I just bought a package of strawberries and the one in the center of the box was covered in white hairs. I threw that one away and a couple of the strawberries that it was touching. Do I have to worry about the rest of them? Were the hairs from a fungus or from a spider?

just wash em good, with disinfecting produce wash (Fit or something similar) and you have no worries.

Wow that's a lot of thought. Eat them all they're good for ya.(haha)

It is fungus. Throw out the really hairy ones and wash and eat the rest.
To keep them from going bad, the first day you get them home, wash them all, cut off the tops, slit them in half, wash them again, dry them in a seive or collander, store them in an air tight tupperwear with a few paper towels to absord excess moisture.

Cowlick, thanks for the advice with keeping STRAWBERRIES fresh. I'm a big fan of berries. I always thought that washing them would make them go bad faster, but taking care to dry them and not allow any new moisture has got to be better. I'll give it a try.

Cowlick, you know your strawberries. I just got the exact same rap from a strawberry grower at the farmer's market.