Plenty of fruit and vegetables should be part of a healthy family diet. But when it cost more to buy a couple of apples than it does to buy a couple of cookies, it is hard to make the best choices. Produce has really gone up in price in the last few years, and I am not even talking about organic produce. It takes skills to be able to provide these healthy items to your family without causing you to go over your budget. Here are some tips on how to save money on fruit and vegetables.
Buy in Season
Buying your produce when it is in season is the best way to save money. While we are used to having strawberries all of the year, that doesn’t mean that they cost the same each time. It is easier to deliver produce when it is in season, not to mention that it is more plentiful, and the prices will reflect this. for example, in the spring, apples cost around $!.59 a pound in my store. During the fall, that price is reduced to only $.89 a pound. So I buy most of my apples in the fall.
Prevent Spoilage
Most people throw away about 25 percent of their food, and most of this is produce that spoils before it can be used. Learn how to prevent early spoilage as much as possible. There are three things that can speed spoilage: moisture, bruising and gases. For moisture, take your produce out of the bag. Use a dish towel underneath to absorb extra moisture, and refrigerate produce where appropriate. For bruising, carefully examine your produce and separate bruised items and remove bruised leaves or stems. For gases, allow plenty of air flow and do not put certain produce items together on the same shelf. Potatoes and onions, though frequently stored together, have gasses that tend to spoil each other.
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