Buy Fresh Vegetables in Large Amounts and Save
Produce Purchased for Canning or Freezing Saves Money
Jun 12, 2009
Consumers who want to enjoy fresh produce all year long don't have to be home vegetable gardeners. No one likes paying absurdly high prices during the winter for warm-weather produce. Why not buy favorite vegetables from late spring to early summer while the prices are low? Try canning and/or freezing vegetables to save even more money.
Where to Buy Fresh Vegetables during Spring and Summer
As gardens continue to produce during warm weather months, farmers and local vegetable gardeners are selling the harvest on the side of the road, in markets, and in grocery stores. Check out the sources listed below for the freshest picks.
- Supermarkets. Many local grocery stores sell locally-grown corn, peaches, tomatoes, strawberries, and other crops. Produce may be at least 24 hours old in some large chain grocery stores.
- Family Grocers. Small grocers often sell produce from local farmers, especially in rural communities.
- Roadside Stands. Those persons from rural areas who cultivate large gardening plots often sell produce from the back of a pickup truck or set up a small stand for business along busy roadways.
- U-Pick-It Farms. The rewards are two-fold in that one can buy vegetables and fruits by the bushel, bag, or basket; plus, the adventure makes a great family outing. Produce can't be purchased any fresher than right from the vine or tree.
- Farmer's Market. Choose popular summer vegetables at competitive prices. Some vendors also offer raw honey, relishes, and homemade condiments.
- Flea Markets. Vendors offer home-grown produce from trucks, carts, or booths.
Tips for Buying Locally Grown Produce Outside the Supermarket
Organic gardening is growing in popularity as more and more people turn to green living. However, some farmers may still be using pesticides to treat crops. Produce sold in supermarkets is controlled and inspected. Roadside produce and farmer's markets may still carry some of the soil from harvesting – and a few unwelcome bugs.
- Ask if locally sold produce has been grown organically. If it has not, then one may be at risk for ingesting chemicals.
- Inspect fruits and vegetables before buying for bruises, soft spots, over-ripening, blemishes, and insect holes. Pull corn husks away to inspect kernels or ask the vendor to do it.
- Compare the price per-pound at a roadside stand or farmer's market with the supermarket price to see which deal is best. Consider too, the roadside produce may be a day or two fresher – a big plus when one plans to freeze vegetables.
- Buying vegetables in large quantities is a smart way to save money all year 'round. Make sure one has enough time to process the extra produce, whether one is canning, drying, or freezing the food. (Freezing requires blanching for most vegetables.) Check available freezer space or consider investing in a home freezer.
- Never eat vegetables or fruits directly off the vine or tree without first washing the food.
- Don't choose fruits or vegetables that have fallen to the ground.
- Try to purchase produce early in the day, before picked vegetables and fruit have been exposed to long hours in hot temperatures.
- Take care when purchasing processed products such as relishes and preserves. One never really knows how safely such foods were handled during processing.
Favorable growing conditions throughout the U.S. make bumper crops possible for many home gardeners and farmers. Consumers can take advantage of the extra harvest by buying vegetables and fruits at low prices and freezing the surplus. Know where to buy fruits and vegetables in addition to the supermarket produce section, and calculate the best prices. Inspect any vegetables (and fruits) before buying, but pay particular attention to roadside produce for food safety reasons.
When buying vegetables in bulk quantities, know how the extra food is to be stored, such as by canning or freezing. Consumers inexperienced in storage methods should read before buying to know what equipment is needed; for example, most vegetables require blanching – a boiling water process that's necessary for proper freezing without food spoilage. Whether canning or freezing, preparing foods for storage is a time-consuming activity.
Buying fruits and vegetables in large quantities from U-Pick-It farms, farmer's markets and roadside stands can save consumers hundreds of dollars in food costs each year. Investing in needed equipment such as canning materials or a home freezer may mean an extra expense, but it does not take long before the savings begin to add up. Enjoy summer (and winter) produce any time of year by buying at low prices and learning to store the extra food.
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