HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

There’s nothing quite like having fresh fruits and vegetables for meals, but getting high-quality produce at decent prices can be a nightmare. Most people don’t want to sacrifice their health for the sake of saving money, but this can easily seem the only option. Luckily, there are several ways to save money on fresh produce.

See a great deal? Buy in bulk and freeze or can produce

There’s always at least one or two sales going on in the produce section, and you’re likely to spot something you like at reduced prices. However, buying in bulk may mean rotting fruits and vegetables, not to mention wasted money. Reap the benefits of these good sales by freezing and canning vegetables and fruits. This allows them to last much longer than they would in your refrigerator. However, remember to can foods properly, as canning them improperly can lead to food poisoning and botulism.

Vacuum seal produce

If you want to preserve the flavor of vegetables and fruit, but would rather not freeze or can them, consider vacuumsealing them instead. Vacuum-sealing keeps vegetables and fruits in an air-tight container, allowing them to stay fresh in the pantry or refrigerator for much longer than they would in open air. This process also doesn’t reduce freshness or flavor. The only downside is that produce doesn’t last nearly as long in vacuumsealed containers as they do when frozen or canned.

Don’t just buy produce in stores

The grocery store isn’t your only option for buying produce. Farmer’s markets and roadside stands are excellent places to find a wide variety of fresh, high-quality fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices.

Many of these sellers have products grown locally, ensuring the freshest produce possible. Not only do you get delicious produce, you also help local farmers and other small businesses, which builds the local economy.

Grow your own fruits and veggies

Having a garden can also save money on fruits and vegetables. One packet of seeds costs between $1 and $5, and the resulting plant could yield a harvest worth much more. However, weigh the cost and benefits when planting anything for the sake of saving money. Many fruits and vegetables need specific care and climates to grow well. You might end up spending more money on maintaining the plant than you would buying produce. Some of the more popular and cost-effective options are tomatoes, peas, cucumbers, and strawberries.

Trade with friends

Did you get a big tomato crop from your garden this season? Did you buy a lot of one item in bulk? Trading with friends who also have gardens and greenhouses, and searching for good deals will also provide ways to save.

Buy in-season produce

Fruits and vegetables in season tend to be less expensive than those out of season. They have a shorter distance to travel, making production and transportation cheaper for the farmer and the store, which typically makes the price lower. Buying produce out of season also mean fruits and vegetables are bland and not fresh.

Fruits and veggies about to expire? Use

them!

If you have produce on the cusp of expiring, try to find a use for them before they begin to rot. Some popular uses include making vegetable soup or stock out of them. If the fruits and vegetables are too far gone to eat safely, there’s still a way to prevent them from being wasted. Toss any slightly spoiled or rotten produce in a compost heap, which can later fertilize your lawn, or you can use it in your garden to help grow even more vegetables.

With smart shopping, ingenuity, and effort, you can save hundreds of dollars every year. You don’t even have to worry about leftover and rotting produce ending up as wasted cash, as long as you are creative or have a compost heap. You can enjoy healthy and delicious produce year-round without wasting a dollar.