With the cost of food quite expensive at the moment and a lot of comment regarding savings on food items, I often wonder at the so-called half-price specials that one sees at the supermarkets these days.
Are they real savings and how much extra does one pay for other goods purchased, to cover this so-called shortfall in price?
It seems that some are skipping fresh fruit and vegetables, due to the cost of living and the weather conditions.
Prices will always go up and down due to their availability. Suggestions made in past columns include that we should grow our own veges that are easy to grow and manage, at least to save some money out of the household budget.
But there are other options you might consider, helping you to save a little money on fresh produce.
Opting for tinned or frozen food could be cheaper and can be just as healthy.
Fresh food can sometimes be dearer owing to the requirement that they be handled and sold in a different way. Spoilage and waste can be a major consideration to the shop keeper and they often adjust prices to reflect this requirement.
But with frozen or canned food, these fluctuations can be mostly controlled, with some veges actually being packed and frozen directly after picking. Some at the farms themselves.
These products can have a long shelf life and be stored sometimes for months at a time. There can be a considerable difference between the price of fresh food and canned or even frozen vegetables.
One would have to weigh up the differences between the various foods to find the cheapest alternative, pitting fresh to frozen or canned.
Fresh vegetables are always touted as being the most nutritious, however sometimes frozen foods can actually be better.
Fresh can sometimes deteriorate from paddock to plate, depending on the time before it’s consumed, but often tinned vegetables are canned straight away thereby sealing in the goodness and flavour.
Fresh foods generally if not used or stored properly may only last a few days, whereas frozen or tinned food can be purchased in different quantities and consumed at any time before the use by date.
Frozen food can retain most of its vitamins and minerals, sometime even better than fresh produce.
So, where does that leave the shopper who only wants the best for their family?
One has to investigate if frozen, fresh or tinned food are best according to the price paid at the time and this could prove quite challenging.
Till next time.
