Did you catch our Savings Segment this morning on Fox? We are honored to be featured on Good Day Tampa Bay on Fox 13 each Sunday to share our knowledge about coupons and how to get the most for your money! This week’s topic was all about how to save on purchasing produce!
Here is a little more information for you:
- U-Pick is Here – Right now, those of us in the Tampa Bay area are just headed out of the Strawberry Season (remember, the Strawberry Festival was not too long ago). That means the farmers are opening up their fields to allow the public to come in and U-Pick berries right out of the field! Savings per pound at U-picks range from 20 to 50 percent below supermarket and farmer’s market prices. During these last couple weeks of strawberry season, locally you can also pick eggplant, green beans and okra. And in the coming weeks we will be able to U-pick inexpensive peaches, blueberries, and tomatoes! My favorite place to pick Organic Strawberries is Strawberry Passion Farms in Thonotosassa!
Go to PickYourOwn.org to find a local U-Pick farm near you. You will want to find the name there…then search for the farm on Facebook to get hours and availability. - Tips For U-Picking – Bring containers, sunscreen & watch the chemicals. Sometimes farms will provide the containers, but if you plan to pick a lot of produce for canning then bringing your own container may get you an even further discount. Ask the farm when they last sprayed the fields. Many farmers stop spraying once the fields are open for U-Pick, but their answer could dictate how much “sampling” you do while picking in the field. Try to hit the fields first thing in the morning. That is best for crowd control and safer from the heat exhaustion and sun burn. Not only is it a way to stretch your dollar, but is also a fun family activity! Our kids look forward to the excruciating tomato picking and peeling activity we do each year. We have been several times in the past couple weeks to Strawberry Passion Farms in Thonotosassa with some friends and picked enough berries to make loads of jam and freeze the rest for smoothies or pies later in the year. They are open each day from 8am-3pm until 4/15 and have loads of organic berries for just $1.50/lb.
- Join A Farm Co-Op – Becoming a member of a local farm is a great way to save on produce. Not only does it save shopping time, but you are getting local, in-season, super-fresh (picked the day before) produce that will last longer. Typical pricing is around $20 for a heaping box of produce, delivered or picked up weekly, or bi-weekly. Visit LocalHarvest.org to find both CSA’s and Farmer’s Markets closest to your home. Simply enter your zip code in the search option!
- If Shopping At the Grocery Store for urgent “need now” items, make sure you shake that produce. The “mist” machine that keeps produce looking fresh is also adding weight to your item. Be sure to shake it off before you put it in the bag. No need to pay for extra water to come home with you. Did you know that Target regularly has $1 off Produce on their Mobile coupons? That allows you to get 3 free items every other month! And don’t forget cheap frozen produce too!
Basically, it’s time to grab your containers and the kids (cheap labor) and head out to the fields to pick some fresh produce!
~Happy U-Picking!
