We are now well into apple season in the upstate area.  In fact, it’s nearing the latter half…but the pickin’s still good…really good!  If you’ve looked at the apple prices and added in the cost of gas, you may be thinking that it’s less expensive to just stay home and grab your apples from the local supermarket, particularly if you’ve been to the orchards just for the tourism/vacation.  Pick a few for the “experience,” but bushels? Just a tourist trap?  Fortunately, there are some really good deals to be found…

Stepp’s Orchard (~10 cents/lb. or half bushel for $2)

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some discounted produce amongst some other deals

When I buy bagged salad, I almost always buy it at Bi-Lo for 99 cents (or less, if I have coupon overage).  How do I do this? By buying it on Produce Manager’s special.  Look for the orange tag in the produce section.  This means the food is getting close to its expiration date.  I have bought bagged fresh spinach, brocolli, cauliflower, carrots, salads, grapes, mushrooms, peaches, tomatoes, and cucumbers this way.  I once even got a full fruit tray that was originally over $10 for just $1.49.

So keep an eye out for those orange stickers at Bi-Lo!  The best times to find them are on weekday mornings.

What about you? Do you know of any other grocery stores that offer markdowns for produce about to go bad?  (The Tomato Vine also does this, but I wouldn’t consider it to be a grocery store.)