Save Money on Produce at the Supermarket

How to Spend Less on Fruits and Vegetables in the Grocery Store

Aug 10, 2009 L. Marie Dubuque

Buying fresh fruits and veggies doesn't have to be expensive, if you know how and where to look.

Everyone knows a healthy diet is usually loaded with fruits and vegetables. But buying them in the supermarket without breaking the bank takes some thoughtful planning and comparing.

How to Save Money on Produce at the Grocery Store:

Buy fruits and vegetables in season. Sure, that is pure common sense. But not everyone knows what is in season and what is not. It's easy to figure out; whatever fruits are in season are usually a lot less expensive! Also, signs on produce shelves usually tell what is locally grown and what is not. Apples harvested nearby are going to b a lot cheaper than those imported from Chile.

Pay Attention to Supermarket Sales:

If strawberries are on sale, buy them in bulk. Then find a free recipe online for strawberry pie, bake a whole bunch and freeze them. Or if the local supermarket is running a special on grapes, take a canning class at the local university extension service, and start making preserves. Some fruits and vegetables do well frozen. Buying an extra freezer at a scratch and dent store might be a good investment in the long run.

Compare the Produce at Competing Grocery Stores and Warehouse Clubs:

After a while, consumers get to know which produce is the best at which store. Sometimes a warehouse club will beat out a grocery store in terms of freshness and price. But other times, a supermarket may run a sale and pick the freshest produce straight from the farmers. But the best way to ensure that produce is fresh? Buy directly from the farmer at a farmers' market. There, shoppers can ask questions and save money while enjoying the whole "vegetable stand atmosphere." In fact, a trip to the farmers' market can become a weekly family tradition. Many markets also offer restaurants where you can taste some of the merchants' home-cooked meals.

Finally whether shopping at a grocery store, a warehouse club or a farmers' market, make sure the establishment sells a lot of produce. If business is slow in a particular store, one would bet the produce isn't as fresh as a place that moves fruits and vegetables very fast.

Trying to get more fresh fruits and vegetables into one's diet is a little easier if the price tags are a little lower. By comparing stores and keeping a careful eye on sales, eating canned peas will soon become a thing of the past!

The copyright of the article Save Money on Produce at the Supermarket in Consumer Education is owned by L. Marie Dubuque. Permission to republish Save Money on Produce at the Supermarket in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Save Money Buying Produce at the Supermarket

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Aug 12, 2009 3:41 PM

beccaj21076 :

Some great tips. I also have had luck finding some produce such as bagged salads and pre-cut fruits and veggies with huge price reductions at my local grocery stores because they are near their expiration dates. It's still fine as long as you use it within a day or two.

Another thing to look into is local food co-ops. They get large quantities of produce from local farms at reduced prices and then divide them up among the members. The one in my area charges $15 for a conventional basket, $25 for an organic produce basket. Pick up is on Saturday mornings.

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