Review of Produce in Local Grocers — Many Surprises!

Hi Everyone!

Last blog I told you I'd be visiting some local grocers to determine the "lowdown" on their produce. I did just that and found some interesting info.

When I asked questions and looked at the produce, I was looking for: (1) How much of the produce is locally grown (2) How many times per week is it delivered and how long does it take to get to the floor (3) Is any of it artificailly ripened or "quick grown" (4) When the grocer packages the produce what info is included on the package. I have lots of info, so let's jump in.

1. : I visited the store on 75th and Cass. The produce man I spoke with was very friendly and very willing to give me info. I found him personable and received great customer service from him.
   
   They have produce delivered every day and it is usually less than a day from back room to floor.
   
   In the summer, locally grown produce makes up about 50 percent of their produce, but it drops significantly during the winter.
   
   Nothing is artificially grown, however about 75 percent of the bananas are quick grown. They are subjected to extreme heat to ripen quicker. (What happens to the nutrients?)
   
   Every Jewel packaged produce has a sell by date on the package.
2. Westbrook: I visited the store on Cass and 63rd. It was extremely difficult to find anyone who could give me any info, much less anyone who could understand my questions.
   
   The gentleman who finally tried to help me gave me limited information, at best, and apparently, there was no manager who could help me.
   
   I did manage to get info that the produce is delivered two times/week.
   
   NONE of the Westbrook packaged produce had any kind of dates on them whatsoever. This concerns me because how would you know how old the produce really is?
3. Whole Foods: I visited the store on 63rd. The produce worker who answered my questions was great and answered everything I asked with enthusiasm. Great customer service!
   
   They receive produce every day, and less than a day passes from back room to floor.
   
   During the summer locally grown product makes up the majority of the produce, but in the winter this drops significantly. None of their produce is either artificially ripened or quick grown.
   
   Please be aware with this store that unless it specifically states it is organically grown, it is not organic produce.
4. Amici's: I visited the store on 63rd and Fairview. I have to say I have been coming to this store for years. I was SO hoping to be able to say good things about this store...to talk it up...to promote them in a great light.
   
   Alas, when it comes to the produce info I was looking for, this store was my biggest disappointment. (I purchase my chicken breast and prosciutto here and it's fantastic...I just assumed the rest would be as well.)
   
   Anyhow, I tried to speak with two gentlemen and neither one of them could understand ANYTHING I said. With the second one he just walked away while I was mid-sentence.
   
   Finally, a young lady tried to answer my questions and her command of the english language was pretty poor as well. I did manage to find out that produce was delivered every day. When I asked to speak to a manager, she said one wasn't available.
   
   I tried very hard to find a person to speak to here, but it seemed as if none of the people I spoke with were interested in helping me. However, all of the Amici packaged produce I looked at had sell by dates on them. At least that was good.
5. : I visited the store on Cass and Plainfield. I tried to speak with two people in the store and neither could understand me; however, the second person (a gentleman) went out of his way to find the manager to answer my questions. I appreciated that greatly.
   
   The manager told me they receive produce every day except Thursday, and it spends a day in the back being looked at and before going out on the floor the next day.
   
   He was pretty sure it was about 50 percent locally grown during the summer, but in winter not so much. None of the produce is artificially ripened or quick grown. As far as the packaged Brookhaven produce, most of it had sell by dates on it. Note: "most."

I visited these stores because they are in my immediate area. Dominick's was too far, and honestly, Lassak didn't cross my mind.

As a whole, I was disappointed with what I found. Yes, Whole Foods has the most locally grown, but they are also the most expensive ... by a lot.

Whole Foods and Jewel have the best quality produce, yet I cannot get it out of my head that some of the Jewel produce is quick grown. That cannot be good for nutrients.

Amici's produce seemed to be fresh and in good shape. The prices rival Jewel and are not as high as Whole Foods. Brookhaven's quality of produce was lower than Jewel, Whole Foods and Amici's, but their customer service and prices were much better. As far as Westbrook is concerned? I would skip it. No information available from the people OR the packaging. What exactly are we eating and how old is it from Westbrook?

My disappoinment in Amici's is great. I LOVE this place, but I was treated so poorly, it's almost not worth going there and paying them to be rude to me. Brookhaven was my big surprise. They were polite. The young lady and gentleman who tried to help me first were very understanding and rather than give me bad info they found someone who could. Very nice.

Bottomline?? If you can afford Whole Foods, I say go for it! I know I can't!! I buy certain things there but cannot afford to purchase everything there. My next choice would be Brookhaven. The quality may be lower, but so are the prices, and their customer service rules.

One last question ... if the produce is locally grown, why does it have to be so expensive? (Whole Foods) I wonder ... why is it SO expensive to eat healthy? Why does organically grown or pesticide free products have to be so much more money?

I firmly believe if it wasn't so expensive we would ALL eat healthy and the USA would not have any kind of obesity problem whatsoever. So, come on grocers and growers!!!!!!! Help us out here. Adjust your prices so we can ALL afford to eat properly, nutritionally and healthy.

Thanks for reading.

Have a great week!!! Eat well and enjoy your food!!!!