Maximize Your Produce and Buy Seasonally

 

Welcome to the first day of Strawberry Week! I’m so beyond excited that you’re here, and I couldn’t think of a better way to start off our week than to talk about the when’s, how’s, and why’s of buying seasonally.

Because if you want to save a big chunk of change in your grocery budget, it is essential that you learn how to do this!

Strawberries, oranges, peaches, apples, pineapple…..if you buy fruits and veggies out of season, you’ll end up paying a lot more than if you wait to stock up when they’re on sale. When supply exceeds demand, that means it’s growing season somewhere, and you want to take advantage of that.

However, even though all those strawberries might be a really good deal, 6 pounds of them won’t save you any money by sitting in your fridge for weeks on end. Throwing them out is an even worse feeling. Especially when you had such good intentions.

Plan your meals around what’s available

Know ahead of time what will be coming in season and start creating a list of meals to match.

Sustainable Table makes this really easy by providing a Seasonal Food Guide for every state. Bookmark this site so you remember to check it every time you make a meal plan, and incorporate the fruits and veggies that are available right now into your recipes.

Not only will you start adding more healthy foods into your diet, you’ll also get a better understanding of produce prices when they’re in season or out-of-season.

Eat what you can, preserve what you can’t

Learn how to freeze, can, and dehydrate produce, so you can stock up and enjoy fruits and veggies at it’s freshest all year round. My frozen blueberries taste just as good in my favorite muffins a year later, than when they were just picked.

Pretty much everything can be preserved too. You just have to start doing your research. I’ve even successfully preserved apple slices!

The best place to buy

I use the regular grocery store for many of my produce needs, but there are other options to consider as well, especially if you want to scout out a better price.

Discount grocery stores. Stores like Aldi’s and Save-A-Lot keep their overhead low, and are therefore able to offer lower prices. If you can hit their produce at the right time, you can get a steal of a deal.

Farmer’s Markets. There will always be farmers and hobby gardeners who plant enough produce to sell at a local market. Most of them don’t want to take their inventory back home, and will offer discounts closer to market closing time. Stake out your picks right before they pack up!

Pick it Yourself. Last year’s apple crop made it very inexpensive for me to drive to an orchard and load up my bags with fresh, right off the tree apples. But always check the price per pound and compare it to the grocery store. Sometimes, it’s not enough of a difference to warrant the extra work.

Find Community. Up North, right near the end of Summer, baskets of zucchini are bound to show up at churches and soccer games. Down in Florida, I’m told the same thing happens with oranges. When people have an abundant crop, they’re generally willing to share the excess.

Produce doesn’t have to be expensive. Start working fresh, healthy, and seasonal foods into your grocery budget and see if it makes a difference. Because we can’t eat ice cream all the time. {grin}

What is your favorite produce to buy in-season?