1. Put your green bargaining cap on and talk
with farmers at the markets to negotiate a lower price for your produce. We
know they work hard for their money but it can’t hurt to ask. Bartering for
fare isn’t as strange as it sounds. Maybe they’ll unload the less popular
fruits and vegetables for less too.
2. Everyone’s looking for the perfect
specimen. You might want to choose produce that’s been passed over, because of
minimal bruising and spotting, and ask for a lower price. Let’s face it, basil
is going to wilt anyways once you chop it up or cook it so buying some that’s
already on its way isn’t going to affect its flavor. It just means that you’ll
want to use it sooner than later — which isn’t a bad thing.
3. More and more of the bigger food warehouse
stores (like Sam’s Club, for example) are carrying organic items. If you can
buy in bulk (dried beans, rice, canned tomatoes, organic coffee, etc.) this
will save you a few dollars too. If you want to buy vegetables in greater
quantities because of price, some will freeze nicely if slightly blanched
beforehand. Asparagus, green beans, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, turnips and
squashes can all be frozen.
4. Before you go to the Farmer’s Market and
get pulled into the romance of it all (“I must have those gorgeous garlic
scapes – now what do I do with them?”), plan ahead and go with a set list in
mind. If an item is too expensive because it’s just come in season, wait a week
and the price may go down.
5. The proliferation of websites that sell
organic food and related items is ever-growing and with the incentive of free
shipping on some sites, this may be a great alternative for you. Amazon.com is
even dabbling in selling organic grocery store items, so you’ll have a variety
of sources from which to choose.
6. Just as you search for coupons in your
local supermarket flyers (or watch them haphazardly fall out of your weekend
newspaper), many of the organic brand websites offer a way to print out coupons
too. If you don’t have access to a printer, some of the websites will simply
send you the coupons if you supply your snail mail address.
What To Do When You Can't Find Organics Or Pesticide-Free Fruits and Vegetables? If you don't have the advantage of buying organic and your local supermarket only carries fruits and vegetables that have been sprayed with pesticides, reduce your risk by finding out which ones are the worst. Check: Reducing Your Risk To Pesticides: 47 Fruits and Veggies and Their Pesticide Load
What To Do When You Can't Find Organics Or Pesticide-Free Fruits and Vegetables? If you don't have the advantage of buying organic and your local supermarket only carries fruits and vegetables that have been sprayed with pesticides, reduce your risk by finding out which ones are the worst. Check: Reducing Your Risk To Pesticides: 47 Fruits and Veggies and Their Pesticide Load
Source: http://preventdisease.com
