Many of us walk into a grocery store with a list ofhealthy foodswe need for the week.
Or, we cut into it before it’s ready to be eaten to discover a flavorless fruit.
When it comes to your produce, it’s more complicated than just fruits and vegetables.
Shutterstock
You canbreak down the classificationof each one further.
There’s no one-size-fits-all when you’re dealing with this wide range of textures, structures, and tastes.
There are three measures of ripeness: smell, weight, and color.
Shutterstock
“You just start to kind of get that sense that they’re enticing you,” Berens adds.
“And that is the plant’s goal, is to get eaten.
And so it’s going to make itself as attractive as possible.
Shutterstock
They’re like, come on over here, pick me.”
“Local food is grown within the boundaries of a particular region.
“You’ll have to decide whether you want to allocate your resources to it.”
Shutterstock
“I give a shot to buy local food as often as possible.
That’s where frozen can be a great alternative.
That said,Ruffagereaders are familiar with Beren’s holistic approach to buying produce.
Cory B./ Yelp
The cost-benefit analysis can get complex.
Not all organic foods are strictly good for the planet.
Sometimes buying smaller can be better for the community overall.
Shutterstock
“I have a go at buy organic.
The environmental benefits of organic farming are important to me.
I also believe that organic production makes economic sense for farmers,” she writes.
But if you want the best finds, you should consider seeking out farmers markets.
“If you love the food, you have to love the people who are making [it].
You have to understand at least what that work is.”
The discussions with farmers can open up conversations about their growing practices, as well as new food discoveries.
She explains how one of her favorite recipes came to be.
And they were like, ‘Oh my gosh, have you tried these ground cherries?’
They peeled back the paper and gave it to me, and it was a totally new flavor.
I was so excited to cook with it.”
Get more bang for your buck
Ultimately, bringing home the best can get pricey.
With few exceptions, the grocery stores thatcarry the highest quality producealso tend to cost more.
However, there are ways you could get a better deal on delicious items.
Just verify you’re going to get to it in time.
(Bonus: this helps everyone cut down on food waste.)
“I want that food to be eaten.
I don’t want it to go into a landfill.”
Most people just throw those out.
you’re able to freeze most things and use it in something else.”
