Fresh Produce

racerm911 on 22/06/2016 - 13:37

Just cracked open a mandarin I purchased over the weekend and noticed that it was rotten on the inside (only bad one in a 1kg batch).

Anyways, this occurrence is certainly not a one-off, unfortunately for me - I purchase the majority of my fresh produce from the big super-market chains and often get left with poor quality fruit (ie. mealy apples, dry oranges).

Here's my questions:
-what should be the expected shelf life for fresh produce? particularly for things like apples and oranges (see! it is possible to compare them)

And what are your thoughts on if its okay to return them?
And has anyone actually done it?

Food & Grocery

Comments

  • Savas on 22/06/2016 - 13:41

    Has anybody tried peeling bananas, madarins etc. before buying them to save money?

    • racerm911 on 22/06/2016 - 13:47
      +3

      Do you mean to reduce the overall weight?

      Admittedly, I often do this for things like cabbages and lettuce, but its more to get rid of the waste in store, instead of having to do it at home as these parts are inedible. Same idea i guess. But I wouldn't consider it with fruit as it would result in it not lasting as long.

      • Savas on 22/06/2016 - 14:02

        Interesting, thanks for the reply

  • danyboy on 22/06/2016 - 13:59
    +3

    Don't buy the bagged apples/citrus… I find them to usually be of inferior quality compared to the loose ones

  • Tuesdaygal on 22/06/2016 - 16:18

    You can definitely get your money back. I have done so with some mangoes that looked good on the outside but were rotten inside. I rang their customer service line, quoted my receipt details and they sent me an e-gift card.

  • [Deactivated] on 22/06/2016 - 16:51

    i think both the big supermarkets have freshness/satisfaction guarantees on fresh produce, if you take you receipt with you next time you go they should just give you a refund. I don't believe you are required to bring along the bad produce either

  • ihbh on 22/06/2016 - 21:34

    Balance returns with how much your time is worth.

    • GnarlyKnuckles on 22/06/2016 - 23:04

      'Balance returns with how much your time is worth.

      This advice is totally on the money. While I'm almost certain Coles and Woolies would both issue refunds 'no questions asked', it would 'cost' you more in time than it is worth in money, most likely, depending on what your hourly rate of pay is (at least for apples and oranges; maybe not for an avocado or a mango!).

      Re Woolies, I would tend to be a bit more sympathetic with them purely because of their 'free fruit for kids' program, which I must say has been a great success here in Heidelberg West (VIC). When they first introduced it I was almost certain it was a gimmick that would be quietly discontinued a month later. I was totally wrong about that. I don't know how much it costs them to run, but it's a really great initiative, particularly in this (poorer) area and I thank them very much for it.

  • piggyfund on 23/06/2016 - 10:31

    They will refund you and if you go there often for shopping you can get a refund when you're next there. To address your Q about where to buy fresh produce. I shop everywhere, from supermarkets to large outdoor markets to farmers markets, small corner stores etc etc regularly and unfortunately you will just have to pick your items wisely as you can pay double for organics and it still may be rotten inside. Price or place does not guarantee quality unfortunately. Nature is not perfect. I rarely get avocados right even though I spend the most time picking them out. I have gotten refund on avocados as they can be quite expensive and ruined my dinner plans.

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