One of the biggest misconceptions I encounter is that eating healthy is really expensive. Well sure, it can be, if you don’t shop smart. But that’s why I’m here. I’ve scoured the markets, made the mistakes, and learned the lessons for you. After years of trying to eat within a super strict budget, I’ve come up with these easy and practical tips to save money on produce and fill your plate with a rainbow of colors, even when your bank account is running on empty.
Buying produce on a budget is all about picking the right items, at the right time, and in the right form, and it will likely be different for every person depending on where you live. Here’s a quick video introducing my techniques, but you can scroll down for a more in depth look at each tip, plus a few more!
Buy In-Season Produce
Okay, we’ve all heard this tip, but what does it actually mean and how does it save you money? In today’s global agriculture market, it’s a little more difficult to tell what is in season because many items are available year-round, but when produce that is grown in your region is in it’s harvesting season, you’ll notice a glut at the grocery store. That sudden increase in supply drives the prices down, all while providing you a fresher, more flavorful product than items that are technically grown “out of season” and half way around the world. Growing seasons differ from region to region, but if you keep your eyes open you’ll start to notice the patterns. Or you can consult any of the handy charts online, like this one from the USDA, to get a general idea. And if you do score a really super deal on seasonal produce, freeze it! Stock your freezer with your goods to use later and lock in that awesome in-season price.
Stick to Sturdy Vegetables
One of the easiest ways to save money on produce is to stick to sturdy fruit and vegetables. Delicate fruit and vegetables, like berries or baby greens, spoil quickly and therefore the growers and grocery stores carry a higher monetary risk to keep them stocked on their shelves. They cover that risk by raising the price. Instead, stick to sturdy vegetables that are very shelf stable, like cabbage, sweet potatoes, celery, onions, carrots, potatoes, kale, collards, apples, and oranges. Not only do they cost less at the store, but they’ll last longer once you get home, so you’re less likely to find them wilted in your crisper a day later.
Pay Attention to Pricing
Grocery stores usually price produce one of two ways: per pound, or per item. This can make a big difference in the total cost. For instance, a bag of grapes may have a big sign that says $2.99, which sounds great, until you realize that’s actually per pound and that bag of grapes weighs three pounds! That’s a $9 bag of grapes! Paying attention to pricing method is also important when comparing packaged produce to loose produce. You may see a bag of carrots for $1 each and loose carrots for $1.49 per pound. Check the weight of the bag of carrots so you can compare the per pound price for both.
Buy Regional Produce
Buying local is a huge trend, but it can also help you save money on produce! When produce has to travel across the country or across the globe the cost of that transportation gets absorbed into the price you’re charged at the checkout. As an added bonus, since regional produce has less distance to travel and can make it from farm to store faster, it’s usually picked closer to its peak ripeness and will have better flavor. So, tropical fruits and vegetables may be very inexpensive in the southern United States, but more expensive in the north, while cold weather fruits and vegetables, like apples and plums will be less expensive in the north and more costly in the south.
When You Can’t Buy Fresh, Buy Frozen
Frozen fruit and vegetables can be an excellent budget saver. When produce is out of season or expensive for other reasons, I turn to the freezer aisle. Frozen produce is not only convenient because it’s often pre-chopped and ready to toss into a recipe, they have an extremely long shelf (freezer) life, so you don’t have to worry about them spoiling if you don’t use them up right away. When shopping for frozen vegetables, stick to the plain vegetables that don’t come with sauces or seasonings, and buy larger bags to save more!
Shop Outside the Box
Some of the best places I’ve found for excellent quality produce at a low price are international markets. I haven’t quite figured out the why behind this, but I think it’s because other cultures use a lot more produce in their regular diet than Americans, so international markets have a higher turnover rate for their produce and can afford to stock better produce at a lower price. That’s just my guess, but whatever the reason, if you have a large Asian grocery or other international market in your area, check their produce! You may be pleasantly surprised. Also make sure to look into local CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture), and local farmers’ markets in your area.
Still Not Convinced?
On average I’d say I spend around $1.50/lb. for produce, and sometimes far less. Compare that to that $4 bag of chips. The bag of chips may look big, but it weighs next to nothing. Meat and dairy are going to be at least twice as much per pound than produce, if not more. If you pick the right produce at the right time, it can be one of the least expensive items in the grocery store. Stock up, eat healthy, and be happy!
Got Produce? Now What?
Now that you’re a pro at getting tons of fruit and vegetables at a bargain, what do you do with it? Browse our Vegetable Category for recipes, or check the Ingredient Index to filter recipes by specific ingredient/fruit/vegetable.
What are your favorite ways to save money on produce? Leave your tips for the other readers in the comments below!
My grocery store frequently has “manager’s special” stickers on produce that is past or a little too near its prime. When higher priced things like mushrooms are marked down that way I will buy them all and cook/freeze or otherwise use right away – recently I cooked a bunch of mushrooms in butter and garlic and froze in small jars -what a treat to be able to thaw quickly and make a killer frittata when money was tight a few weeks later.
I also like to buy huge bags of onions and carmelize as much as I can in the crock pot and freeze these in small empty jam jars to add to frozen pizza, sandwiches, or bring to potlucks.
I love it! Great tips!
“like cabbage, *sweet potatoes*, celery, onions, carrots, *sweet potatoes*, kale,”
got a little typo there.
Yes, , I’m sure everyone else noticed that too, but being that none of us are perfect either, felt the need to point that out.
Lol, thanks Erin! I actually do appreciate it when people point out my typos. :) I’m usually blurry-eyed by the time I do my proof reading, so it helps. 🤪
Great tips, Beth! I’ve also wondered why international grocery stores have such low produce prices. One more tip in regards to grapes – you don’t have to buy the whole bag! Just take out a smaller stem or two and place them in another produce bag. I do this often (we would never get through a huge 3 pound bag!) and have never had any issues.
Never even thought to do that. I always thought you had to take the grapes in the bag they put them in. Great tip!
Stores stock the freshest, newest (i.e. Best before date) items to the back so that the older stuff at the front (easier to reach) goes first. Reach behind and to the back for the best quality in terms of freshness….longer keeping.
Celery is a favorite go-to vegetable for me. When it is really fresh it tastes great as is or add to salads, soups, stews, stir fries, and casseroles. You can saute some diced carrots, chopped onions and chopped celery to saute in just a little olive oil or other vegetable oil. Partially cook the vegetables, then cool, package and label with the contents and date and freeze. Having a few of these pre-prepped veggies in the freezer with save you time, money and maybe a last minute trip to the store when preparing a main meal. The chop-chop-chopping is one of my least favorite things about cooking.
Me too, although I have to say chopping celery is one of my favorites because I love the texture! 😂 I hate rinsing it off, though. It’s so messy.
I totally agree with the suggestion to be aware of what’s on sale each week. This week for me it was sweet peppers, broccoli crowns, and baby carrots. Got those and splurged on snap peas ($2.99/#). One thought if having the veggies prepped for you is appealing, the 4# veggie/dip tray from Costco is $10, so $2.50/# for salad bar prepped veggies. Usually has baby carrots, broccoli florets, cauliflower florets, snap peas and some baby peppers.
Also farmers’ markets are a great source of ultra-fresh and reasonably-priced veggies
My tip is buy what you need for just the next few days or a week at most. And go by the number of recipes you’ll actually cook rather than “oh, this sounds good”. I don’t know how many times I have bought enough produce for 7 or more dinners when in reality I only cook 3 (I cook some dinners for myself and some for both my husband and I and it makes a huge difference in the veggies eaten). The best deal if possible is to pick some meals, go to the store and check off the meals the veggies are available cheaply for. Then cook them!
GAH, grapes. I’m 34 years old and accidentally spent $9 on grapes last week. When will I learn.
Made me laugh out loud! I am terrible with grapes!
I agree that it pays to know what veggies are on sale for the week. This week where I live the sales were sweet peppers, broccoli crowns, and baby carrots. I got some of each and splurged on sugar snap peas. Also, if time is money for you think about the veggie/dip tray from Costco: 4# of prepared veggies for $10, or$2.50/# for salad bar veggies. The tray has baby carrots, broccoli florets, cauliflower florets, snap peas and some baby peppers. The veggies are very fresh.
And farmers markets are a great source of ultra-fresh and reasonably-priced produce.
I look at the weekly Aldi circular (online) and almost always buy at least one or two or their produce “special buys.” It’s usually in season items, and very high quality.
Great video Beth. You are beautiful
Take the time to actually look at produce before you buy it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen someone grab a pack of strawberries that has mold on the bottom and put it in their cart, or apples that are so bruised you would think someone played soccer with them. Even if it takes you 2 minutes instead of 10 seconds, it is worth it to not get home and have to immediately throw it in the trash.
YES to this! 👏
– Buy off your grocery store’s salad bar if you only need a small quantity of a certain vegetable or two.
Great tip–I like baby fresh greens for salad some of the time, and at $6.99 per lb, the cheapest source is the salad bar. It’s also cheapest for garnishes like seeds, nuts, olives, feta cheese, etc. And don’t forget to check the sale display–although many of those veggies are too far gone or in too large a quantity for immediate use, a few over the hill zucchini are still fine if you plan to eat them quickly, and it can be a great place to get just enough new potatoes for dinner.
My elderly husband got braces about a year and a half ago and when smoothies became his favorite breakfast, I discovered frozen fruit. Super markets frequently put packages of loose berries and other fruit on sale even cheaper than fresh, they are a wonderful source of high quality produce that will last much longer than stuff from the fresh isles, ie, Walmart sells a lb of frozen strawberries or sliced peaches for under $2–just as good and much less work than peeling and slicing fresh peaches, although I’ll still pick fresh strawberries when possible.
Yes, I love doing this! Excellent!
Avoid the pre-packaged, pre-chopped stuff in the fresh produce aisle. You will save money and the environment by avoiding all that plastic and styrofoam packaging.
Not to mention that pre-cut, bagged produce is one of the leading causes of food poisoning! https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/4/26/17282378/romaine-lettuce-recall-ecoli-yuma
Buy the produce that is going out of date, bruised or otherwise not “pretty.” My local store has a spot in the back corner of the produce section where they mark down the stuff that most people turn their nose up at. But there’s nothing wrong with that produce – it’s just an apple with a little bruise, or a green pepper with a crack in the side. I get this for pennies on the dollar. And if it’s going to spoil soon, I chop it up and put it in the freezer for later.
Another tip is to grow your own herbs: It’s SO simple and doesn’t take much space, but saves an outrageous amount of money. Have you priced “fresh” herbs at the grocery store lately? The price is obscene…