#3 - let's talk about ways to be frugal when purchasing fruits & veggies

**homesteadmamma** · 02-19-2006, 08:53 PM

Okay, how frugal are you when it comes to purchasing fruits and veggies? Let's posts ways to do it here.

**suesue** · 02-19-2006, 08:56 PM

I am fortunate enough to live near a wonderful Farmer's Market (in Dallas). Our homeschool group has a co-op. For $10 we get a big box of assorted fruits and veggies. I do wish that they were organic, but you can't beat the price!!!! We do this every other Saturday, and ususally I order 2 boxes which lasts until the next trip.

suesue

**ellebee** · 02-19-2006, 09:23 PM

Two things I do to save money on fruits and veggies is to buy the loss leaders of the week for fresh and to rely on frozen otherwise. Its not so much the price of frozen that saves me but the fact that it doesn't go to waste. I've unfortunately thrown alot of fresh produce away in the past but now I buy less and am doing better about waste. In the summer I go to farmers markets because I love them not so much to save money.

**madhen** · 02-19-2006, 09:39 PM

I grow a lot of my own. The first thing I did when I moved in was to start planting fruit trees! :-) I also have a small garden and a couple of container plants (strawberries, garlic, etc.) that I maintain. I live in an agricultural area, so it is usually pretty easy to get good deals on fresh fruit in season. I dehydrate a lot of it while it is cheap, so I can snack on it throughout the winter! (My favourites are strawberries and bananas.)

**madkat2618** · 02-19-2006, 09:40 PM

I always check the marked down bin when I go shopping. I have gotten red & green peppers really cheap, then when I get them home, I chop them all up, as well as celery and onion, and put a little of each into freezer bags, and put them in the freezer. When I make stir fry, I pull out a bag, and just throw it in the pan.
Same thing with bananas, I buy the marked-down bags for 1/2 price or less, and use them to make muffins. I probably have about 5 dozen banana muffins in the freezer right now!

**inneedofhope** · 02-19-2006, 09:52 PM

I buy fresh, on sale, and only what we will use quickly. I like frozen veg as well.

**slowtypinwoman** · 02-19-2006, 10:46 PM

In the summer I do better. However, right now my body just seems to crave fresh veggies and fruits and I just pay the price.
I figure it gets eatten and it is better than opting for cheaper junk food.

**Darlene** · 02-20-2006, 07:55 AM

Originally posted by madkat2618
I always check the marked down bin when I go shopping. I have gotten red & green peppers really cheap, then when I get them home, I chop them all up, as well as celery and onion, and put a little of each into freezer bags, and put them in the freezer. When I make stir fry, I pull out a bag, and just throw it in the pan.
Same thing with bananas, I buy the marked-down bags for 1/2 price or less, and use them to make muffins. I probably have about 5 dozen banana muffins in the freezer right now!

And also agree what's been mentioned. Another thing is to use what's in season. For example in winter carrots and other root veggies are "in " and I eat more of them. Certain times of the year are good for citris and another for apples.

**tbs727** · 02-20-2006, 08:39 AM

I am making the move to all organic fruits and veggies, so I have been scoping out the natural foods market. On different weeks, they discount different fruits by at least 50%. In the summer I have an organic garden for my veggies and an apple tree. I will buy what I can't grow at the local farmers market. Everything there must be organic. It doubles as entertainment for me b/c I visit the booths and meet people I know. I just love the atmosphere. I can't wait until spring!!!!

**Mom23boys** · 02-20-2006, 09:26 AM

I purchase bananas at Sam's (wholesale club) because they are .98¢ for a bag, which is cheaper than what it would be if I purchased them for .38¢ a pound. I get more for the money. I also look for marked down bags of fruits and veggies.

**sunshine** · 02-20-2006, 09:47 AM

We eat in season mostly. . . . . meaning I don't generally buy strawberries in January, or watermelon in March.

I grow most of our fruits and veggies, then can, freeze or dehydrate them.

I gladly accept all excess produce from friends and neighbors- if someone says they have a bunch of fruit that has dropped on the ground from their trees, I'll offer to clean it up for them -- I take the dropped fruits, cut out the bad parts and make pie fillings, fruit leathers, butters, sauces, etc.

We keep our eyes and ears open for offers-- a year or so ago, a potato farmer had fields of potatoes that were not acceptable to sell to the potato chip companies. He mentioned that if anyone wanted potatoes-- just come and get them. We picked up over 800 lbs of potatoes for just a couple hours work (they were planted in sand, so we didn't even have to dig them !)

**baxjul** · 02-20-2006, 09:56 AM

I buy most of ours at the fruit stand down the road, they are all locally grown. This year I am going to try my hand at growing my own veggies! We'll see how that goes!

I get alot of lemons and oranges from friends and neighbors that have trees in their yards, oh, and figs also! for free!

**Michele Annette** · 02-20-2006, 10:20 AM

Sadly a garden doesn't work at our apartment, so for now I buy all of our fruits and veggies at the grocery store/farmer's market.

I buy only the fruits and veggies that are on sale and look good.

Oranges are in season, so we eat a lot of them. Plus the extra Vit. C helps with our colds.

I have to have salad in my fridge on a regular basis, so I buy romaine hearts in a package of three and buy two packages for two weeks worth of salad. Cucumbers if they are a fair price and look good. Same with fresh broccoli and bell peppers.

Carrots, celery, onions, garlic and potatoes are "stapes" in our house.

I always buy our potatoes in a 20 lb. bag. So they last they are kept in a basket in the basement with a loose towel over them to protect them from any light. We go through that many in two weeks (DH eats lots of potatoes), so it's a perfect amount between grocery shopping trips without them going bad.

1/2 of our grocery budget is spent on fresh fruits and veggies.

**cheapgeek** · 02-20-2006, 10:27 AM

I don't eat starchy or sugary fruit or veggies, so it can get expensive. I go with the loss leaders, cherry pick the reduced rack, and keep a small stockpile of canned pumpkin, green beans, tomatoes, and mushroom pieces and stems; as well as frozen spinach and cauliflower.

My general cooking staples are onions, garlic, carrots and bell peppers. My "eating raw" staples are avocados and red bell peppers. Everything else varies depending on price, but I almost always have mushrooms and cauliflower on hand.

**madhen** · 02-20-2006, 10:44 AM

I became a Master Food Preserver a few years ago. I found one way to get a LOT of free produce and canning supplies is to go to their meetings! <g> Pretty much everyone who preserves food as a serious hobby also produces it, so there is a lot of sharing going on. :-)