Budget Produce Shopping Tips

Budget produce is one of the biggest stumbling blocks for anyone trying to eat right without spending a lot of cash. The food pyramid, and pretty much every nutritional expert in the world, tells us we’re supposed to have five servings of fruits or vegetables a day. But, making this happen on just a few dollars a day can feel impossible. Per pound, fresh fruit can be some of the most expensive food in your supermarket, which makes budget produce shopping seem like a serious challenge. Fresh vegetables are a deal when compared to the price of meat, but when compared to the cost of carbohydrate based foods like pasta, fresh vegetables seem as luxurious as caviar. Luckily, there are plenty of budget produce shopping tactics that will help you get your crucial daily fruit and veg without spending a lot. To get the vitamins you need without ringing up a big bill, try these budget produce shopping tips.

Learn Your Seasons

One of the toughest challenges for anyone trying to master budget produce shopping is seasonal price fluctuation. When a fruit or vegetable is in season and available in large quantities, it costs a lot less than when it is out of season and harder for stores to get. This means that if you can anticipate when a fruit or vegetable will be in season, and for how long, you will be able to plan when you can get it for the lowest possible price, and you will avoid buying it at anything but bottom dollar. This quick rundown of when different vegetables are in season will help you with budget product shopping all through the year.
Summer: Tomatoes, Corn, Lettuce.
Fall: Beans, Broccoli, Leafy Greens (kale, leeks).
Winter: Leafy greens (leeks, cabbage), Squash, Root Vegetables (carrots, yams).
Spring: Root Vegetables (carrots, beets), Peas, Asparagus, Everything!