Choosing Produce

**fixer** · 01-26-2009, 10:45 PM

I spent some time working in the produce department of a large retailer. Stocking taught me how to choose the freshest produce without even looking at it. The easiest way to think of it is the most convenient piece of fruit of vegetable is the oldest. The freshest is the one way in the back, under the stack, or similarly hard to reach. The concept is known as forcing and it relies on the fact that people are lazy. I bought some cello carrots today and it worked like a charm in a totally different store.

**justpeachy92** · 01-26-2009, 10:47 PM

That holds true throughout the whole store, the new fresh stuff is always put in the back.

**IntlMom** · 01-26-2009, 10:49 PM

thanks for pointing this out, I tell ppl that want my shoppping tips to always look to the back of the shelf for eveything they buy...produce is fresher, milk has a longer exp date....maybe even a 15% free larger bottle of shampoo all the way in the back....you just gotta look!

**phoeny_moonstar** · 01-27-2009, 03:00 AM

Thanks for the awesome tip!!!

**madhen** · 01-27-2009, 03:10 AM

I guess I should refrain from the obvious and not ask why you are purchasing your produce as opposed to growing it?

Seriously, I'll have to try that next time. I tend to check age dates somewhat obsessively when I buy anything packaged, so I typically end up with the freshest stuff.

Unfortunately, with fresh produce, newest doesn't always mean best. When the fruit is so green, you can't even smell anything, it is hard to tell if it is going to taste good when it ripens!

And my pet peeve at the grocery store is how they always turn the age dates on the dairy products away from the consumers!! It always takes about 3x as long as it should to get milk, half and half, etc, because you are behind the crowd of people turning cartons around to check the dates!

**TheRootedNomad** · 01-27-2009, 06:45 AM

So true fixer. Thanks for the reminder.

Some of my teenage memories bring me chills of horror

......

"Condense and circulate the merchandise."
"Stack 'em high and watch 'em buy."
"End the price with a 9 and everything will be fine."
and so on......

**Buc-O-Mama** · 01-27-2009, 08:06 AM

I'm sure you already do this, but just in case, don't forget to weigh your produce that is sold by the item. Heads of lettuce, packages of tomatoes, peppers or onions too. There can be a huge difference in the weight of those items.

**The Muse** · 01-27-2009, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by Buc-O-Mama

I'm sure you already do this, but just in case, don't forget to weigh your produce that is sold by the item. Heads of lettuce, packages of tomatoes, peppers or onions too. There can be a huge difference in the weight of those items.

Great tip! I often end up with more than the stated weight of carrots, potatoes, etc. by doing this.

**Trishagirl** · 01-27-2009, 10:11 AM

Great tip we really don't think about this when we are shopping. Sometimes when I get cheese at the meat & cheese shop the boys say that the cheese tastes funny. I say it must be old or they must of frozen it and then brought it out. I'll have to get the cheese on the bottom not from the top.

**gardening momma** · 01-27-2009, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by Trishagirl

Great tip we really don't think about this when we are shopping. Sometimes when I get cheese at the meat & cheese shop the boys say that the cheese tastes funny. I say it must be old or they must of frozen it and then brought it out. I'll have to get the cheese on the bottom not from the top.

Freezing the cheese shouldn't change the flavor. And if it's a block of cheese, you'll know if it's been frozen if it crumbles when you try to slice it.

**Darlene** · 01-27-2009, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by Buc-O-Mama

I'm sure you already do this, but just in case, don't forget to weigh your produce that is sold by the item. Heads of lettuce, packages of tomatoes, peppers or onions too. There can be a huge difference in the weight of those items.

I always get wierd looks when I do this but I don't mind, I'm there to get the most I can for my money.
You should see me with the 3pk of romaine, lol trying to find the fullest.. Getting to the level of bottles on a shelf to look at all of them to pick the fullest that goes for washer fluid, vineagar, juice & everything else. A savvy shoppers gotta do what she/he's gotta do.
Another thing to remember is to leave the shelf as nice as you found it but you already knew that. It's terrible how some people leave things when they go digging.

**TheRootedNomad** · 01-27-2009, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by gardening momma

Freezing the cheese shouldn't change the flavor. And if it's a block of cheese, you'll know if it's been frozen if it crumbles when you try to slice it.

I second that.