best priced fruit/veggies (Roanoke, Salem: sales, apartment, home)

[OuttaFlorida]

Where can I find the best priced fruits and veggies in Roanoke or surrounding areas? I find the farmers market to be just as, if not more, expensive than Kroger and the quality isn't all that great. I want to be able to fill some bags for 20 bucks, not just a handful of tomatoes and a small head of lettuce.

[headnsouth]

I've found the quality at the farmer's market downtown to be excellent and reasonably priced, but if that doesn't work for you, there are also farmer's markets in Salem, Vinton, and now Grandin Village too, that might meet your needs better. Also there are CSA options like Seven Springs Farm if you want a regular supply.

[Watchful]

Originally Posted by headnsouth

I've found the quality at the farmer's market downtown to be excellent and reasonably priced, but if that doesn't work for you, there are also farmer's markets in Salem, Vinton, and now Grandin Village too, that might meet your needs better. Also there are CSA options like Seven Springs Farm if you want a regular supply.

The Farmer's Market downtown mixes area and non-area produce - so the sweet corn from Florida or the peaches from Georgia are not likely to be cheaper - possibly a bit fresher??? It is usually fairly easy to find out which items are really local.

I love the Grandin Saturday morning market - not for the price - but for finding very fresh, local products. It is a great environment.

I have heard that one strategy is to show up near closing time but I am generally pinching my pennies in other ways...

If you are looking to maximize savings, it is probably simplest to check all of the supermarket ads - sometimes the sales are pretty good.

[OuttaFlorida]

When i was in Florida there was a fruit and veggie store/market (JJ's Farms) that received supply from local farmers. Man you could walk out of that place with 10 packed bags and only spend 20 bucks and this was top quality. How do all the country stores fare? I know of one in Bonsack on 460 but have yet to go in.

[Diamond Dave]

Originally Posted by OuttaFlorida

Where can I find the best priced fruits and veggies in Roanoke or surrounding areas? I find the farmers market to be just as, if not more, expensive than Kroger and the quality isn't all that great. I want to be able to fill some bags for 20 bucks, not just a handful of tomatoes and a small head of lettuce.

You can have price or quality, but not both.

For example, if you want tomatoes now, they'll suck. If you want good tomatoes, wait a month, but then the lettuce will suck.

You just have to ask at the downtown market where the stuff is from and they'll tell you. No real reason for it to be cheaper--the local farmers don't have to pay Kroger's overhead but they don't have their economy of scale either.

All that being said, try Wirtz' farm market on Brambleton Ave. in Roanoke County, sorta down near the Coffee Pot but in the county.

[alice_61]

This isn't Florida. We don't have the climate, huge vegetable and fruit crop base, or migrant labor pool. I haven't found anything super cheap except apples in the fall. Maybe you could look into growing your own produce.

[Trevor92]

I'll often just check the Food Lion and Kroger sales papers to see what fruits they have on sale in any given week. It's not the best quality, but you can usually get a good deal and there's enough of a quantity to take home a decent selection.

I was also very impressed with the prices and quality at Super Dollar Discount Foods in Vinton but I've only been there a couple times when I was in the area and there's only the one in the Roanoke area that I know about.

I'd imagine fruit prices would overall be much lower in Florida where it's all grown. About the only fruits that grow in Virginia are apples and berries, but you rarely see anywhere stock Virginia strawberries or blueberries except the farmers markets. At least I've never seen an orange or pineapple tree here.

[OuttaFlorida]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'll keep shopping and check out some of the other farmers markets. I'll miss my fresh grown florida fruits , maybe I'll just become addicted to apples and berries now !

I've started my garden and my pepper and tomato plants are starting to flower!!

[Teebyrd86]

Originally Posted by OuttaFlorida

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'll keep shopping and check out some of the other farmers markets. I'll miss my fresh grown florida fruits , maybe I'll just become addicted to apples and berries now !

I've started my garden and my pepper and tomato plants are starting to flower!!

anyone ever heard of the "topsy turvy" planter? My mom got me one becuase I live in an apartment and dont have room for a garden. I use mine for growing tomatoes. It works pretty good and I would suggest it to anyone living the apartment life!

[Watchful]

Originally Posted by Teebyrd86

anyone ever heard of the "topsy turvy" planter? My mom got me one becuase I live in an apartment and dont have room for a garden. I use mine for growing tomatoes. It works pretty good and I would suggest it to anyone living the apartment life!

And for EVERYTHING ELSE - go to the produce section at Ukrop's! Not only good produce but charming employees!