Congrats Budster... on your great find. I always check out the reduced racks. Last fall I got about 4 lbs of green peppers for 50 cents. I chopped some and put in the freezer for later use and made stuffed green peppers for supper and put 6 in the freezer. One of my favorite reduced racks is the bread rack at Wal-mart. I found my DH a sugar free cherry pie yesterday for $1.00 he was happy.

I guess I'll check out those reduced racks more often---the only one I see at Wal-mart has cakes and pies and such----been on a diet.

Thanks, Budster.

I usually buy about half a bushel of apples - and share them with neighbours and friends. Now that I'm down to three teeth, it takes a lot of knife work. Except when I make apple sauce - but I like to leave peelings on.

Yeah - I look to the "reduced" rack, as well.

Our local A & P used to have a day-old bread rack, but discontinued.

When I asked why, they said they were going to leave the day-old stuff in with the others of its own kind.

I did some minor whining about it.

Now, I see that they have put the day-old rack back in operation.

Smoke out the bargains, folks - and when you find 'em, let us know where to look.

joyful

If you go to the farmer's market at the end of the day, farmers may give you things or greatly reduce them rather than take them home. Tell them to bring you all the bruised/imperfect tomatoes, fruit they have and you will buy it half price. Use these for canning and preserving. It doesn't take that much time to cut off the bruised parts and it tastes just as good! THAT's how canning can pay off (if you don't grow your own that is). For those who want to someday garden, start this way and learn to can so you can be ready for the day you can eventually do it all.

Most merchants will be glad not have to take the unsold items back to the farm, whatever and will be glad to get anything for last bit of produce. It never hurts to ask and you can develop some wonderful relationships with the grower/seller that will pay off in the future. IMHO

I agree. It never hurts to ask and maybe you could barter a jar of tomato sauce for tons of tomatoes?

Some friends of mine regularly visit farmers' or flea market with produce near closing time precisely to scoop up those bargains.

I'm quite a long way from one - but sometimes try to arrange an errand in such vicinity about that time, if convenient.

Much cheaper than in regular supermarket - especially the one closest to me, which is rather expensive (except that I buy bulk stuff there).

Usually product that's not the best can be bought at really low cost and most of it, after selective cutting, can be canned or frozen.

Tomato soup, heated from bottle and mixed before serving with milk heated in a separate pot, sure isn't like the canned stuff from the store. Drop a bit of baking soda into the hot tomato and stir, prior to mixing, to reduce curdling (and eat fast).

joyful