The vegetable and fresh fruit section in the grocery can be quite eye-catching as long as you know what to look for and what to purchase.
This section is usually found in the front of the grocery store and most customers go to stores that have high quality and numerous varieties of vegetables and fruits. It’s easy to buy branded cereals in any store but since veggies and fruits are perishable, they need to be fresh.
What You Should Look For
Vegetables and fruits are important parts of a healthy and nutritious diet. However, their health benefits are usually compromised by contamination as well as combinations of pesticides such as toxic poisons of the nervous system, disruptors of the endocrine systems, and possible human carcinogens.
One possible solution is to purchase produce that is certified organic but this may not be enough for most families since this kind of produce may be more expensive than regular vegetables and fruits and may not be available in some areas.
Fortunately, you can minimize the effects of pesticides by washing the veggies and fruits thoroughly. Thanks to the advancement in the produce industry, most vegetables that are being sold today are of the highest quality.
Tips for Buying Vegetables
1. Go for freshness.
Look for signs that the produce is fresh by checking its colors whether they are lively and bright as well as their crispness.
2. Don’t purchase because of low price.
Take into consideration the amount of money that you might waste. Avoid buying in bulk as the nutrients from the produce can go down as they age.
3. Buy produce that is grown locally.
These are less pricey and are usually fresher.
4. Buy chilli, butternuts, ginger, and onions.
These types of vegetables are normally cheap and they can add more flavor to your meals.
5. Buy produce that are in season.
Vegetables are usually at their best price and quality when they are in season.
6. Handle them with care.
There are some vegetables that are hardier than others but handling them carefully can help prevent damage or bruising to them.
7. Stay away from decay.
It’s pretty foolish to buy produce that are already starting to decay. Even if you remove the decayed part, the damage can still spread to other unaffected areas. Paying more for vegetables and fruits that are clean and fresh is worth it.
8. Use markdowns the same day.
Local produce stores tend to mark their fruits and veggies down before they are thrown away. Use these on the same day and don’t buy in bulk since they may no longer be useful for cooking after a few days.
