I found this great article online thought I would share it. I think she gives lots of good times to not get over whelmend with the produce at the market. With Spring fast approaching, fruit stands will start popping up before we know it. I plan on growing a lot of our families veggies this year but I will still have to buy some items.. enjoy the read!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Produce Aisle Survival Guide
There is something satisfying about being a domestic hunter gatherer. Call me strange, but I simply adore grocery shopping, especially shopping for produce…even despite my curious shopping habits. Walking into the market is like walking into a time warp for me, I love taking the time to walk the aisles, but seldom have the luxury of making a ‘day of it’. Despite my time constraint, I still maintain my peculiar habit of sorting and packing my own groceries – my ritual is so notorious that my family jokes about my antics, and the cashiers excuse the baggers once they see me approach.
Food shopping is one of the fist domestic chores we learn to tackle, but with busy modern lives, our weekly shop can turn to chaos, wasting us time and money, often leading us to make poor buying choices. Over the next few weeks I will be doling out words of wisdom, offering advice and cutting through all the confusion of grocery store shopping.
When should you buy organic? If your family eats something frequently, eating the organic option will reduce your intake of pesticides considerably. While many of us see the value in organic eating, it is not always possible — sometimes the item you need is not available in organic, or your budget restricts you from making this choice. Understanding the pesticide residue in produce is the first step in making educated buying choices.
Saving money in the produce aisle: Keep your produce fresher for longer by storing your broccoli and celery in a vase with 1 inch of water at the bottom….think of them as fridge blooms. Keeping your produce stored at the right temperature and freezing seasonal produce to enjoy out of season is the smartest way to shop for produce with your wallet and taste buds in mind. Freezing produce is easier than you think and can be done with a variety of fruits and vegetables while still maintaining their nutrients.
- Freezing vegetables: Blanch them in boiling water for 1 minute before straining, then allow them to cool at room temperature. Once dry and cool, place them in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
- Freezing berries and herbs: Rinse, strain and allow to dry before freezing on a baking sheet or flat surface for 2 hours. Once frozen, move to a freezer safe container and store for up to 3 months.
Find the freshest produce and skip the leftovers. Flirt with your green grocer, or simply just ask them when they receive their produce. Each store has a different delivery rotation for when their produce arrives. But arrival does not always mean it will make it to the shop floor. If you are looking for really fresh melons, let your green grocer know, they will be able to clue you on the best time to visit.
Sample new finds. Most green grocers are all to happy to offer you a sample of their produce, especially the more exotic looking items. Ask for a sample, you will be amazed at how eager they are to offer you one.
Guest post by Coryanne Ettiene
------------------------------------------------------------
K Jaggers
♥
