balance between quality and cheap for fruit/veg

 For me being frugal means finding bargains on what I need, so in general I
try to find quality items at a great price, not just buy whatever is
cheapest.

I've been wondering lately though where to draw the line with fruit and veg.
The health concious part of me would like to be buying all super fresh
organic, but I just can't handle paying approx 5 times the price.  So I
normally go to a cheap place that deals in bulk and go through the the
bruised pieces for the nicest ones (normally quite a lot of good stuff if
you can bother looking through) or look for stock that is in season and
therefore cheap, but I can't help wondering how many pesticides were used in
growing them, or where they were maybe imported from and how long they have
spent frozen in shipping containers losing nutrients etc.

I've gone to local farmers markets, only to find organic farmers charging
huge prices, and other stalls that have very inferior products that I'm sure
are imported anyway.

Just wondered where others draw the line between price and quality for fruit
and veg.

  Do you have anything like this near you?

http://www.foodshare.net/goodfoodbox01.htm

It's a non-profit produce distribution center.    They deliver boxes of
produce twice a month.  I've been buying from them for about 10 years.

You don't get any choice, but do get a good variety each time.
It's cheaper than buying at the grocery store.

 

It's a good thought, and I've looked into a similar thing that runs near
here, but we go through quite a lot, so would cost about $60 pw, as opposed
to the $30 a fortnight I currently spend

 
Linda wrote:


Pesticide residues shouldn't be a major factor in your purchase
decision. Spoilage is important, because spoiled fruit and vegetables
can be harmful.


Farmers markets are great because the food can be fresher and may
suffer less bruising.

--
   Ron

 
Nope, that hardly ever happens.