topic Re: Store Produce Quality in Recipes

Store Produce Quality

Frosted Cake — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 22:53:58 GMT

I was just at my local store needing red peppers, avacados and some tomatoes.

The avacados were all brown and soft., the peppers were small and soft (and looked old) and the tomatoes were over ripe.

I get so tired of making a trip to the store, where all these items are featured on the ad this week, and the products are not worth buying!

This is a big store and it shouldn't happen. I don't feel like traveling all over for produce that is fresh to eat. I have seen moldy produce on the shelves at some stores. It's so unacceptable. I don't like wasting my money. I did complain, but what they brought out from the back room wasn't better. I wish they would leave the shelves empty if new product isn't available yet instead of putting out the junk.

I wish I could afford farmer's markets, but they are usually high priced.

Re: Store Produce Quality

Mominohio — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 23:01:53 GMT

This time of year in my part of the country, I have to go to three or more stores a week to get good produce. Each place has some good quality things, but no place has everything good quality.

It takes time, but I won't pay for inferior produce. It costs too much to be less than great.

Re: Store Produce Quality

Kachina624 — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 23:05:41 GMT

Some stores have better produce than others but, I must say none at which I shop are as bad as you describe. I certainly would look up the manager and complain. Try other stores in your area and see if the quality is any better.

Re: Store Produce Quality

Snowpuppy — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 23:08:30 GMT

I have gone back to shopping my local farmers market. I freeze a quantity when it's on sale and try to eat what's in season like my grandparents did.

So many chains are now buying imported produce and pocketing the savings. I usually walk by the produce department now in the large grocer here. I'll head for a smaller, locally owned grocery store here. Pricier, yes but they carry mostly US produce that's fresh and looks like something you'd actually want to serve on your table.

Re: Store Produce Quality

GCR18 — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 23:12:49 GMT

I've noticed that too. There's one grocery store in the area that has good produce. I usually just go there, but lately they have been looking a little sad. While we do have a farmer's market, they don't have much until June.

Re: Store Produce Quality

Frosted Cake — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 23:58:34 GMT

I find it hit or miss with this store. Sometimes, the items look lovely and are of good quality. Sometimes, I think it's the produce person who doesn't care or is lazy and just lets it go.

Some stores have good produce mgrs who really make sure the items are fresh and move out the old.

I'm picky when selecting produce. I live alone and don't want something that is going to spoil too fast. I'm the one in the produce section squeezing and taking a lot of time!

Re: Store Produce Quality

Laura14 — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 00:28:25 GMT

I actually had to run to three different stores to find decent, non spoiled, navel oranges the other week. Gave up and finally found them at Walmart a few days later for a better price. If Walmart carried my bread, I might actually forget the supermarket all together and brave the craziness. I just can't live without my oranges.

Re: Store Produce Quality

Frosted Cake — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 00:36:40 GMT

I go to 2-3 stores in my area. I write a list based on the grocery ads for the week.

I find Walmart's produce to be nice, but expensive here in CA.

Are farmer's markets higher priced? I'm assuming they are since it's specialty food.

What I find equally as frustrating is all the mistakes made at checkout. I always have to check my receipt and 9 out of 10 times, I have money owed to me. The other day they had bagels on sale 4 for $1.00. At checkout, he looked in my bag and saw the bagels. He charged me for some fancy roll that was $1.00 each! I told him they were bagels, he saw them and they were on sale. Sometimes, those mistakes can really add up.

Re: Store Produce Quality

DiAnne — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 00:51:13 GMT

I am really picky about produce. I buy it at a high end local chain. I can't believe the difference from the regular grocery stores. When our Farmers Markets open (June) I will purchase there but it is not any cheaper.

Re: Store Produce Quality

RedTop — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 01:42:32 GMT

I am in southern WV, and good produce is very hard to find here from November until June. Kroger usually has the best produce, but there are a few weeks in late January into early February, when you just cannot find certain tasty things, period. Produce stands are only open here during the summer months.

Re: Store Produce Quality

Kachina624 — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 02:21:39 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
I actually had to run to three different stores to find decent, non spoiled, navel oranges the other week. Gave up and finally found them at Walmart a few days later for a better price. If Walmart carried my bread, I might actually forget the supermarket all together and brave the craziness. I just can't live without my oranges.

@Laura14 I don't know what kind of bread you like, but sometime when you're in Walmart, try their apple fritter bread in the bakery. I slice it thick, butter it and toast in my toaster oven. I'm absolutely addicted to it. It keeps a long time too, over 2 weeks.

Re: Store Produce Quality

jlkz — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 14:00:47 GMT

@Frosted Cake

Your post reminded me that when DH gets a dozen bagels at Giant, there is a special price. At checkout, the cashier rings up the regular price. Back he goes to the bread and pastry aisle, finds an employee who then has to consult a big binder and prints the correct pricing label.

This has happened so many times that he ( and now I ) find the clerk first and then go to checkout. You'd think that someone would figure out how to avoid this hassle.

Re: Store Produce Quality

Laura14 — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 16:15:44 GMT

@Kachina624 I do the Ezekiel products which my Walmart doesn't carry. I've never strolled through their bakery. I'll have to take a peek.

Re: Store Produce Quality

ECBG — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 23:25:56 GMT

@DiAnne wrote:
I am really picky about produce. I buy it at a high end local chain. I can't believe the difference from the regular grocery stores. When our Farmers Markets open (June) I will purchase there but it is not any cheaper.

*****Where does Walmart's produce other than pre packaged come from?

Re: Store Produce Quality

Kachina624 — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 00:12:50 GMT

@ECBG wrote:
@DiAnne wrote:
I am really picky about produce. I buy it at a high end local chain. I can't believe the difference from the regular grocery stores. When our Farmers Markets open (June) I will purchase there but it is not any cheaper.
*****Where does Walmart's produce other than pre packaged come from?

Same places every other store's produce comes from.

Re: Store Produce Quality

IamMrsG — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 01:07:27 GMT

I would never shop at a grocery store whose produce manager does not put quality as Priority One. Brown, over ripe product is an obvious sign of neglect--enough to make me wonder what other not-so-apparent things are going unattended behind 'the curtain.'

@DiAnne, I'm with you completely on this subject.