I don’t know about you, but I think it’s totally worth it to stop by my local grocery store once a week to pick up “scrap produce.” Even if we do end up giving most of it to our flock of backyard chickens, I still think it’s kind of fun.
One of these days I’m going to ask Mr. Produce Guy why they don’t put all the spotted bananas in a box and sell them for $0.19 a pound or something. My grandfather would ONLY EAT bananas if they were covered in spots. I’m pretty sure there is someone out there who would love to have them.
Bruised apples with nicks might be a harder sell though.
There were 9 bad grapes in this bag. That’s it. The other 100+ tasted just fine.
There were also 7 bags of mini peppers this week. We sorted though those too. I highly doubt anyone would have bought the bags at a discount and sorted through them though, out of 7 bags, these were the only salvageable ones.
Free fruit and vegetables? Heck yeah I’ll take it.
Wouldn’t you?
~Mavis
Would you like to see what else we have brought home over the past year?
Head on over HERE to read all the past stories and to see all the pictures.
If you have just stumbled upon this series and are wondering how I got all this food for free, you’ll want to read this story first.
mildred lane says
do u save the seeds from the items u get from the produce man to plant next year? I read a blog from a woman and this was how she always got her seeds to plant.
Mavis Butterfield says
Nope.
Betty AD says
Got a Cajun daughter in law that cooks everything from scratch…no b oxes/cans. She says the brown banana itself…not peel is the best for making banana bread. And a friend puts them in the freezer and uses them in smoothies/shakes.. Some say there not ripe till there brown.. Ive always like them yellow/white with some brown spots. Thanks so much for sharing Marvis….some memories at times comes from your post.
Shereen Travels Cheap says
What do you do with the rejects? I know you feed some to the chickens. Do you compost the rest you can’t actually eat?
Carol says
Our grocer can’t give away the rejects. However, because of your blog, I do take the time to go through the produce they have marked down. I used to walk right past the section. I’m glad to say that I have gotten many good deals on items that way….your blog also has introduced me to the joys of using my freezer compartment for more than ice cream and ice cubes!
Thanks Mavis for all the great ideas and inspiration!
Kristen | The Frugal Girl says
Oh my goodness, that is AWESOME! If I had chickens, I would totally try asking at my grocery stores….
Petro Borchard says
I’m living on a farm in South Africa and have always been amazed when reading American recipes : “take one CAN of pumpkin” or my worst/best “pre-prepared boxed mac + cheese”. Considering how easy it is to make it yourself (without all the preservatives and packaging), it blows my mind that it is so prevalent in the US.
I get ‘sell-by’ veg and bread that was squashed or a bit broken off from one shop and meat from another that I utilise to cook up meals for a children’s home. It is amazing how many mouths you can actually feed with that food that would be trashed otherwise.
My excess veg is turned into pickles and some of it dried in my fab Excallibur for dehydrator to be sold to those mad people who go hiking.
Kim Hunt says
Mavis,
I am so jealous of all the left over food you get from your grocer. I have asked all of the grocery stores around me and none are willing to donate the food they can’t sell. Keep up the good work lady!