Last week I went out to lunch with a few friends. One of the topics that came up was the discussion on how expensive groceries are…in particular fresh produce. You know…fresh fruits and vegetables. I agree, over the past 5 years prices have skyrocketed while the quality has decreased. Increased prices means that many of us are not eating our 3-4 servings of fruits and vegetables a day!
That’s when I mentioned shopping at local farmer’s markets. I immediately got a snarl and comments that farmer’s markets are even more expensive. Well, I disagree and then explained how I save money buying my family’s fresh produce at 3 different farmer’s markets.
1. Look for markdowns on day old fruits and vegetables. If you don’t see any…ask the seller if they have any available? Often times they’re underneath the shelving or behind them in boxes. Some sellers don’t put them on display.
2. Ask if they have any 2nd quality fruits and vegetables. These are items that may have a slight bruise, not perfect in their shape or color or have some other type of defect that doesn’t affect their taste.
3. The one farmer’s market near my home gives Senior and Veteran discounts. If you don’t see a sign offering it, don’t be afraid to ask!
4. Be flexible when you shop! I find that going mid-week (like on a Wednesday late afternoon or evening) is when I find the best deals. They often want to get rid of what didn’t sell earlier in the week so that they can put out their new items before the weekend arrives.
5. Volume discounts! If you have a family of 4 or more…or if you just eat a lot of fresh fruits and veggies, ask for a volume discount if you’re buying a certain dollar amount or pound.
Last week when I visited one in our area I got 5 fresh pears, 4 apples, a large bunch of celery and a basket of blackberries for $3.00. All I did was ask the seller if he had any “seconds” or “day old” items available. He grabbed a few things out of a box and said “I’ll sell all of this to you for $3.00 if you want them”. Of course, I snatched them up!
Blackberries and celery freezes well. So, I prepped those for the freezer while we ate up the fresh pears and apples that week. Buying those same exact items at the grocery store would of cost me twice the amount if not more!
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