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Fruits and vegetables

feline groovy — Mon, 13 May 2019 22:36:50 GMT

Grocery Stores With the Best Fresh Produce

Stores with top produce quality and variety can be found across the country

ConsumerReports.com

Last updated: April 23, 2019

If heaven for you is a mountain of lush purple plums; hills of orange, green, red, and yellow peppers; and mounds of ruby radishes, you probably judge your supermarket on the quality of its fruits and veggies.

You're not alone. Good-quality fruits and veggies, available in abundant variety and at low prices, are among the factors that Consumer Reports members consider most important when choosing a particular grocer, according to our recent survey.

That's why supermarkets give their fresh produce departments particular prominence, placing them near the front, where shoppers enter the store. A well-managed produce section can be very profitable, experts say.

To inspire shoppers, many stores use machines that spray a fine mist and even employ theatrical spotlights to show their bounty at its best.

"Those oranges, rutabagas, and eggplants will look better in the store than they ever will in your kitchen," says Paco Underhill, chief executive officer of Envirosell, a New York City-based research and consulting firm focused on consumer behavior.

5 Standouts Across the Country

The top grocers for both produce quality and variety, scattered around the country, are all privately held companies. All also earned the highest marks for variety of locally produced products. In ratings order, they are:

• Central Market (Texas)

• Wegmans (mid-Atlantic)

• Heinen's (Ohio and Chicagoland)

• Gelson's (Southern California)

• New Seasons Market (Oregon, Washington, and Northern California)

Two other retailers excelled in produce quality, with commendable scores for produce variety, and variety of locally sourced products:

• Lunds & Byerlys (Minnesota)

• Fresh Thyme Farmers Market (Midwestern states, Kentucky, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania).

What Makes Standouts Shine

CR members we interviewed often brought up produce as a reason for their choice of store.

Jeff Salgo of Toluca Lake, Calif., raves about the quality of Gelson's produce. The variety also impresses him. "In summer when fruits are available, they have a great selection," he says. "In other markets, they have one kind of plum. At Gelson’s, they’ll have six kinds of plums."

Richard Elder, from Avon, Ohio, says he appreciates that the Heinen's where he shops has plenty of locally sourced vegetables. Though he says the Whole Foods Market near his home does some things better, "Heinen's is the first place we go."

In our ratings, Whole Foods was among more than a dozen grocers that were given commendable, though not top, scores for produce quality and variety.

At the other end of the produce spectrum are Grocery Outlet (West Coast, Idaho, Nevada, and Pennsylvania); Target/SuperTarget; Walmart Supercenter; and Key Food, an East Coast brand. All received lowest marks in produce quality.

Our members said Walmart's produce variety was disappointing but gave the worst marks for variety to the others.

The good news for most consumers is that the number of places they can shop for fresh produce is growing. You can find high-quality fruits and veggies at farmers markets, health-food stores, specialty markets, and even online grocers.

Each month, 68 percent of Americans shop at five or more types of food retailers, according to a survey by the Food Marketing Institute, a grocery industry organization, and The Hartman Group, a food and beverage industry consulting company in Bellevue, Wash.

Grocers that take care not only in the quality of their offerings but also in the information about them they display are the ones that gain a loyal following, notes Laurie Demeritt, CEO of The Hartman Group. "The narrative is important," Demeritt says. That could include whether a food was locally produced, came from a small farm, or was grown under special conditions.

For instance, the produce web page for top ratings performer Wegmans profiles a local farm that supplies some of its fresh items.

"When you talk about taking more care growing a product, consumers will think it means it’s better quality," Demeritt says. "It’s meaningful to consumers that there was more thought, and intention, put into it."

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Re: Fruits and vegetables

Imaoldhippie — Mon, 13 May 2019 17:01:08 GMT

Interesting, but I have none of those markets near me except Walmart. I intend to buy my fruits and veggies at a farmers market this summer. Im tired of paying high prices for half withered and small dinky veggies.

Re: Fruits and vegetables

bonappetit — Mon, 13 May 2019 17:02:52 GMT

FYI................Farmer's markets are the BEST!!!!!

Re: Fruits and vegetables

QueenDanceALot — Mon, 13 May 2019 17:07:24 GMT

The produce section is my favorite part of the market!

I have a Fresh Thyme Market near me that has some good produce, but I get mine mostly at my food co-op that supplies from local farmers, and my Kroger which also is supporting local farmers more and more. Sometimes I buy at Whole Foods and also Trader Joe's but their offerings' freshness can be spotty. And much is shipped in from far away.

I like to buy local and do so whenever possible.

Re: Fruits and vegetables

Drythe — Mon, 13 May 2019 19:52:51 GMT

Wish there were even one of these anywhere near me. 😡

Given the RAIN we’ve had there will be NO bumper produce harvest either.

@feline groovy Thanks!

Re: Fruits and vegetables

deepwaterdotter — Mon, 13 May 2019 17:28:27 GMT

The Farmer's Markets in my area of Wisconsin are an embarrassment of produce riches. And some of the baked goods for sale are a delicious diversion.

Re: Fruits and vegetables

ValuSkr — Mon, 13 May 2019 17:31:21 GMT

Yes, I must agree about Wegmans. Produce is nicely displayed and reasonably priced, with a good variety compared to its competitors. The produce section is right there when you walk into the store, as the article mentioned. Local suppliers are highlighted when their products are offered. Wegmans doesn't have weekly sales, as mosr supermarkets do; its everyday prices are lower than the same for most other markets.

Re: Fruits and vegetables

IamMrsG — Mon, 13 May 2019 17:39:29 GMT

This might sound far-fetched to some of you, but, when DH and I were searching for a new home, one of my personal requisites was proximity to a Heinen's grocery store. From the quality of produce to helpfulness and friendliness of staff, hands down, in fifty years, it is the best line of grocery stores I've found.

Re: Fruits and vegetables

2blonde — Mon, 13 May 2019 17:54:07 GMT

@feline groovy I'm lucky to live in an area of Ohio that has Heinen's all over the place. I live within 10 minutes of two of them, and I can attest that they do have the best produce. As a matter of fact, they are great in every way. The employees are all friendly and helpful, and they have the best prepared foods you can imagine.......better than homemade. Their deli department is always jammed!

Re: Fruits and vegetables

lovesrecess — Mon, 13 May 2019 18:03:48 GMT

Amazed that Sprouts is not listed anywhere! Their produce is always fresh and the prices are excellent. Our farmers market has turned into a flea market with all sorts of handmade soap and art...with an occasional basket of tomatoes or watermelons.
No surprise Walmart ranks so low; their produce always looks shriveled and way past it’s prime. I never consider buying anything in that department.

Re: Fruits and vegetables

IamMrsG — Mon, 13 May 2019 18:10:19 GMT

@2blonde Besides for quality, do you agree that Heinen's variety of produce is outstanding? I've seen, and tried, fruits that I had not heard of before. I also think they take particular care in their displays.

I've told it before, but here is an example of the staff's helpfulness. One day, when I couldn't find it on my own, I asked the woman behind the bakery counter for a particular kind of bread. She told me it was sold out, so I thanked her and went on my way to finish shopping.

Some time later, I couldn't believe it when she brought me a hot loaf of freshly baked bread! She had baked it then searched for me throughout the store, eventually finding me loading my things onto the conveyor at check-out. Being the wise-acre, I joked, "What, no butter?" Then I thanked her profusely.

Re: Fruits and vegetables

Katcat1 — Mon, 13 May 2019 18:14:56 GMT

I agree with other posters that the Farmer's Market in Spring/Summer are the best and the freshest. I also believe Whole Foods has an excellent Produce Dept.

Re: Fruits and vegetables

Foxxee — Mon, 13 May 2019 18:19:39 GMT

All of my grocery stores, including Walmart buy fresh from local farmers. Choice is limited to what they grow. Not all fruits and vegetables grow well in all states.

There is one local store in my area, similar to Wegmans 10 miles away, offers pretty much the same variety, but it doesn't support the local farmers as much as Walmart and the others. I'd rather support our local farmers even if there's not as much variety.

Re: Fruits and vegetables

IamMrsG — Mon, 13 May 2019 18:21:35 GMT

@Katcat1 wrote:
I agree with other posters that the Farmer's Market in Spring/Summer are the best and the freshest. I also believe Whole Foods has an excellent Produce Dept.

In this locale, when our farmer's markets are selling not-yet-in-season produce, they have acquired them from the same broker warehouses that supply the grocery stores.

Re: Fruits and vegetables

Sweetbay magnolia — Mon, 13 May 2019 18:30:10 GMT

One mile from Weggies. Love!

Re: Fruits and vegetables

ahoymate — Mon, 13 May 2019 18:36:49 GMT

Of course the farmer's market has the very best fruits & vegies, esp. this time of year. So fresh, sweet and taste fabulous!!! Find yours and you will love it!!!!

Re: Fruits and vegetables

2blonde — Mon, 13 May 2019 18:47:07 GMT

@IamMrsG Yes! This is typical of Heinen's service IMO. At which store do you shop? I usually shop at the Willoughby store, which is older and smaller, so they are somewhat limited in what they can stock, but I like the personal service there. I also occasionally shop at the Mentor store, which is larger. I live right between them, but there are many others in this region.

Re: Fruits and vegetables

lovescats — Mon, 13 May 2019 18:47:28 GMT

I buy a lot of produce at sams club and walmart. To me the prices are better. And where I live they both have a lot of variety.

I don't subscribe to consumer reports but I bought a car years back that they top rated and it was the worst car ever so I take what they say with a grain of salt.

Re: Fruits and vegetables

sidsmom — Mon, 13 May 2019 18:49:29 GMT

I buy a lot of frozen fruits/vegetables.

Not too picky...gets the job done. 🌼💛

Re: Fruits and vegetables

PINKdogWOOD — Mon, 13 May 2019 19:06:53 GMT

We have Fresh Thymes here along w/Lucky's (orig in CO), Whole Foods, a couple of our bigger grocers are GE Market Distrist, in all enough to choose from for my liking. Through summert time we may visit 'real' armers markets too.

We grow a number of all sorts of veggies - typical and not so much so we eat very fresh as good as it may grow.