"Value/Smart price" fruit and veg quality...

real1314

...I often find that the quality of value range fruit and veg leaves a lot to be desired, to the point that I find that at least 10% of the produce is not edible; do others agree?

I don't mean that it looks odd, has inconsistent sizing or anything that doesn't affect eating. I mean stuff that is "off" / rotten well before the sell-by date that the supermarket has put on it.

I suspect that some supermarkets think people will just accept that a cheaper price means that some of the items have to be chucked straight in the bin.
:cool:

kitschkitty

I guess it depends on what type of produce. That said I think a lot of supermarket fruit & veg is pretty rubbish anyway!

Smart price beetroot from asda for example is the only beetroot I will buy as it's nice, and a good price. Value grapes & apples have been fine, value pears didn't ripen. Spuds, carrots & onions have always been fine.

Callie22

I've never had a problem with 'value' fruit and veg from Sainsbury's - it's decent quality and lasts well, and it's generally all I buy. Also the Waitrose value range is really good. However Asda is the complete opposite and it just doesn't last at all, and the general quality isn't very good.

Salz

I have never had a problem with Tesco Value Pears - always nice and solid

Edwardia

I can't say that I ever had bad fruit/veg from any cheaper range at any supermarket. I've stopped buying it however, because I don't want to be ingesting pesticides, insecticides and fungicides.

The problems I had with cheap veg were storage ones, if it isn't kept in the fridge it can be mouldy next day. Carrots don't need to be refrigerated, they never were years ago and not all supermarkets chill them. I suspect therefore that refrigerated veg has come from cold stores and may not be fresh at all.

Chris25

We had a long car journey a couple of weeks ago & I nipped into Sainsbury's & bought some value apples and value carrots to eat. The apples were Jazz; big, crunchy & delicious.

I don't tend to but value veg unless we're eating it pretty soon after purchase - like Edwardia, I find the storage can be a problem - it doesn't seem to last as well as value fruit.

KxMx

Had some value grapes from Tesco, Crimson variety, and happened to have M&S Crimson grapes, could not tell any difference between them.

Perhaps sometimes with value fruit it doesn't last as long past the BB date as regular.

Beckyy

I have found some smartprice onions to be off.

Middy

I buy Sainsburys' Basic Peppers when there are loads of red, yellow or orange peppers in them. Normally, you get 4-5 green ones and a red one.

The shapes are varied and sometimes get a smallish one- so not good if you are doing like stuffed peppers. Great for salads, stir-frys, soups or a chilli.

They last a long time. I used the last one on Tuesday and bought them a fortnight previously.

MissMonkeyMoo

i find value peppers are good, and things like potatoes, onions are ok. But Smartprice grapes and strawberries are a waste of time, I won't be buying them from Asda again!