Getting a Good Deal on Produce: What and When to Buy
Everyone loves fresh produce whether it’s homegrown or not. We know not everyone has the time, space, and energy to plant their own gardens. For those of you who are trying to save money or just be smart with your resources but can’t plant a garden, we have some tips for you too. Here’s our best advice to save money on produce by buying the right varieties at the right time.
Buy Local
Check your local farmers market. Sometimes you can find good deals from the farmers and not have to pay the middle man. This saves you on mark up and often you can buy organic for less. It also supports the smaller, local businesses that are more eco-friendly.
Buy Frozen
Frozen vegetables are just as nutritious as fresh ones. They are frozen at the peak of their ripeness and often are way more affordable. Vegetables and fruits are the most nutritious when ripe. When you buy “fresh” produce at the grocery story it’s likely to have been picked several days, or even weeks before arriving to your house. Frozen may even be better than fresh, for both your wallet and your body.
Buy In-Season
When a particular fruit or vegetable is in season, the supply is higher and able to keep up with the demand which makes the cost lower. It’s good to know which fruits and veggies are in season so you can plan your meals around what you will find at the farmers market or on sale at your grocery store. You don’t want to plan to make a cherry pie in October when they are not in season. You will not find fresh cherries for a good price. Below you will find a list of in-season fruits based on each month. Keep it handy!
January
In January, look for broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, grapefruit, kale, leeks, lemons, oranges, papayas, parsnips, rutabagas, tangelos, tangerines and turnips.
February
Keep an eye out for deals on broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, grapefruit, kale, leeks, lemons, oranges, papayas, parsnips, rutabagas, tangelos and turnips in February.
March
In March, you will likely find artichokes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, parsnips, pineapples, radishes, rutabagas and turnips.
April
Artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, pineapples, radishes, rhubarb and spring peas are usually good deals in April.
May
Deals can be found on apricots, artichokes, asparagus, cherries, lettuce, mangoes, okra, pineapple, radishes, rhubarb, spring peas, strawberries, Swiss chard and zucchini in May.
June
In June, look out for apricots, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, corn, kiwi, lettuce, mango, peaches, strawberries, Swiss chard, watermelon and zucchini.
July
July is a good time to buy apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, green beans, kiwi, kohlrabi, lettuce, mangoes, okra, peaches, peppers, plums, raspberries, strawberries, summer squash, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelon and zucchini.
August
the best deals in August are acorn squash, apples, apricots, blueberries, butternut squash, cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, figs, green beans, kiwi, kohlrabi, lettuce, mangoes, okra, peaches, peppers, plums, raspberries, strawberries, summer squash, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.
September
September deals include acorn squash, apples, beets, butternut squash, cantaloupe, cauliflower, eggplant, figs, grapes, green beans, lettuce, mangoes, mushrooms, okra, peppers, persimmons, pomegranates, pumpkins, spinach, sweet potatoes, swiss chard and tomatoes.
October
Look for acorn squash, apples, beets, broccoli, butternut squash, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cranberries, grapes, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, parsnips, persimmons, pomegranates, pumpkins, rutabagas, spinach, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, turnips and winter squash in October
November
The best deals in November are beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cranberries, leeks, mushrooms, oranges, parsnips, pears, persimmons, pomegranates, pumpkins, rutabagas, spinach, sweet potatoes, tangerines, turnips and winter squash.
December
Look for broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, grapefruit, kale, leeks, mushrooms, oranges, papayas, parsnips, pears, pomegranates, rutabagas, sweet potatoes, tangelos, tangerines and turnips in December.
*Note: Bananas, celery, and potatoes are always a good deal.
Make Smart Choices
Knowledge can be a super power. It helps you make good decisions. Knowing what is in season will help you shop wisely and eat more nutritiously. We want to help you make smart financial choices as well. If you need more help creating a budget or getting out of debt, we would love to hear from you. Our services are available online 24/7 or by phone. Call us or get started today!
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