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**julirama723** · January 25, 2007, 08:56 AM

Re: California Produce

Here in MT, the produce has always sucked, currently sucks, and will ALWAYS suck. But I am used to the bountiful goodness of Michigan produce--huge, delicious, and cheap. The stuff here is tiny, wrinkled and moldy, and expensive. Some days I feel like I'm on a ship crossing the Atlantic or something, the produce is that bad. I have noticed that it seems to have gotten worse in the past month or so. Everything seems shriveled and shrunken.

**HeidiE** · January 25, 2007, 10:28 AM

Re: California Produce

Oh Julie I am so spoiled and sorry!!!! come visit me this summer and we can go shopping

you need your own giant garden!!!! can you buy local produce during the summer???

**not2late** · January 25, 2007, 10:44 AM

Re: California Produce

Not so good here. I'm eating alot of frozen veggies (store bought and the ones I managed to freeze during summer.) I don't eat alot of lettuce, but that looks okay right now. And I can occasionally find something nice like sweet peppers or cucumbers, but otherwise.....

**julirama723** · January 25, 2007, 11:14 AM

Re: California Produce

The local produce isn't too hot and there's not too much of it...except for Flathead cherries. THOSE are awesome! And the Hutterites sell onions, potatoes, things like that. I've heard their produce is excellent, but I'm not exactly in the market for 15lb. of potatoes.

Most of the local agriculture is wheat. I buy all local beef which is awesome--it's the best beef I've ever had...so it's a trade-off. Great beef instead of great produce.

**sadie147** · January 25, 2007, 11:17 AM

Re: California Produce

Right now there are grocery store price wars here...so what we do have is pretty cheap (i just got avacados 3 for 1$ normally $1.39 each), and so far isn't looking too bad. Our first SuperWalmart (sorry Heidi!) opened here..so the stores are scrambling to compete.

I'm assuming that it'll start to go downhill shortly, when more new shipments come in.

Our berries occaissionaly go on sale in the winter but are mostly crappy though. I don't eat alot of other fruits so not sure what they are like.

**MaggieBE** · January 25, 2007, 11:20 AM

Re: California Produce

I can still get excellent stuff! We get a lot imported from Africa, Spain, Italy, etc in the winter. Frank worked at a fruit/veggie import/export place for many years. Some of the store owners would come in personally to pick out what they wanted. The women that owns our local small store always came in to pick out her own stuff and is very picky too! The produce is about the same price as the big stores. However she has a HUGE mark up on the cookies, cereals, etc.

**Grant** · January 25, 2007, 12:20 PM

Re: California Produce

Heidie, I havn't had much luck finding Jicama, where do you find it if you don't mind me asking?

**biogeek** · January 25, 2007, 02:56 PM

Re: California Produce

In Kansas right now, produce is suffering. I shop at the local co-op for my organic veggie, but switch to the farmer's market when they're open later in the year. The co-op also has a program with some of the local farmers where we get brown-bagged veggies. You never know what you'll get, but it was fresh-picked that day.

I'm hoping to expand my small garden this spring to include more produce.

**changing** · January 25, 2007, 03:46 PM

Re: California Produce

Up here in Maine, everything is imported during the winter -- most of it all the way from California, believe it or not. Usually, the winter produce is definitely not as good as when it's in season and comes from closer by, but these last weeks are so, some of the produce has been pretty darn awful. I've been definitely using a lot more frozen/canned because of it, along with my typical long-lasting favorites (onions, sweet potatoes, etc.). I had some roma tomatos that rotted within a day of bringing them home, and these were from a store that I use all the time and typically have great success with (I always get the best produce from them). I'm really bummed out about it.

**HeidiE** · January 25, 2007, 05:35 PM

Re: California Produce

Originally posted by Grant

Heidie, I havn't had much luck finding Jicama, where do you find it if you don't mind me asking?

Grant you should have no trouble where you are!!! I can not think of the name of one off hand but I have bene to several Hispanic markets in Portland...Just look for market called a Tienda ..they are usually primo and cheap!...or you may now have a bigger Mexican grocer I have not located yet ..I know there is a new Asian Mall down there (my next trip) where you could probably find a lot of great produce!

**HeidiE** · January 25, 2007, 05:41 PM

Re: California Produce

I actually love reading about your areas and veggies.. it is really interesting to me ..and I love that everyone looks for veggies.....they are sooo good for you and there are so many!!!

frozen wise I dont mind frozen spinach and at Trader joes they have frozen stuff like baby green beans, asparagus, and the berries and cherries are fantastic ....not bad price wise!!!

I will buy canned bamboo shoots and water chestnuts but prefer to get those fresh as well if I can ....

do you guys use those much??? bamboo shoots and water chestnuts?

**julirama723** · January 25, 2007, 07:17 PM

Re: California Produce

I buy canned ones--I've never had them fresh. The canned ones last FOREVAH and they're always on hand--I can make a quick veggie stir-fry if I need something to go with dinner.

I also buy frozen string beans, as the fresh ones here are totally nasty. Um...everything else I buy fresh, like cauliflower, broccoli, peppers, spinach, etc.

**HeidiE** · January 25, 2007, 07:34 PM

Re: California Produce

fresh bamboo shoots kind of stink but I like them

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