I shop at grocery stores where you have to ask a produce question.

I would love to hear some suggestions.

I know there was a thread re groceries a few weeks ago but it just addressed questions to ask about seafood and the service counter.

Thanks

Who supplies your corn? When was it picked?

Is it worth the extra cost to buy organic?
Are these peaches grown locally?
Where were these [insert name of fruit or vegetable here] grown?
What fruits/vegetables are in season now?
How do you select a(n) [insert name of fruit or vegetable here]?

Those are some LARGE melons.......

All kidding aside....I have asked which grapes were better nutritionally, green or red?

Which corn is better flavor-wise, white or yellow?

amabilis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I shop at grocery stores where you have to ask a
> produce question.
>
> I would love to hear some suggestions.
>
> I know there was a thread re groceries a few weeks
> ago but it just addressed questions to ask about
> seafood and the service counter.
>
> Thanks


Is that last years apples or are they imported, where were they grown and when?

How long to I have to wait to eat that melon. Is it ready to eat today?

If you care about what you eat and you did not grow up on a farm these are questions that must be asked. You may be eating stuff that is not ready to eaten or stuff that was grown 6 months ago and kept in cold storage.

I have asked if they carried organic bananas (and felt stupid when she pointed to the display about three feet behind me), whether the corn on sale was grown in the USA (and felt stupid when he pointed to the sign that said "California grown" on the display), if the navel oranges were juicy (and felt stupid when I saw the display of samples I could have tried).

I've decided my question of choice is going to be "where was it grown" only next time I'll make sure the sign doesn't already say it.....

Ask if [insert produce] can be prepared on the grill.

Who grills grapes?...

I haven't tried it but, depending on the sugar content, they could turn out quite well. Grilled pineapple is fantastic, especially with vanilla ice cream. I've heard that grilled bananas are good, but haven't tried them. If you shuck corn on the cob and grill it, turning about every minute to keep from burning and continually baste it with an herb butter, it's hard to find anything better.

My standbys

How long will X last in the fridge?
Can you recommend a good apple for baking?

Mr. Bond,

We can always count on you for good grilling and great recipes. :-)

I first had grilled pineapple at a Brazilian steakhouse and love it. I don't have a grill myself and tend to forget how good grilled veggies and fruits are.

BTW - the grocery shops I do most often give you a list of acceptable questions for each department. I really wish they would switch them up more, or at least add options on a more regular basis.

James Bond 007.5 Wrote:
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> I haven't tried it but, depending on the sugar
> content, they could turn out quite well. Grilled
> pineapple is fantastic, especially with vanilla
> ice cream. I've heard that grilled bananas are
> good, but haven't tried them. If you shuck corn on
> the cob and grill it, turning about every minute
> to keep from burning and continually baste it with
> an herb butter, it's hard to find anything better.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/08/2013 09:46PM by RiverSong.

I think those questions are just suggestions, in case you can't think of your own. At least that's true for the grocery shops I do here (not a national chain, so yours may be different).

I'm thinking of a large chain, and you have to select which of the questions you asked when you input your report.

I also do a local co-op. They are much more flexible.


itsasecret Wrote:
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> I think those questions are just suggestions, in
> case you can't think of your own. At least that's
> true for the grocery shops I do here (not a
> national chain, so yours may be different).

1. What's the difference between light and dark Kale, and how do you cook it.
2. Where do these plums come from...oh Mexico, guess I'll pass.
3. What season do you get tart cherries, and so on......

Thanks for all the great ideas!

I ask if the they have any jicama today? They usually don't but it is a really good vegetable grown in Mexico.

Insight Wrote:
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> I ask if the they have any jicama today? They
> usually don't but it is a really good vegetable
> grown in Mexico.


You can also eat it like a apple. It really is good.

I have to do a shop where I ask that question. I usually just ask if they have any organic califlower. Why? I don't know.

I ask for mint, organic anything, fresh dill.

I too, have trouble thinking up a question to ask and thought I'd be outed if I asked for something that's right there. Both my kids work grocery, one in Produce even, and when i asked thier advice, they rolled their eyes and said in a laughing tone, "No Mom, we get asked dumb questions all day long! People can't see or read!"

I'm going to make me a 'note' with all these ideas, and from the other thread. Thanks everyone!

Do you carry lemongrass?

Do they charge extra to cut your watermelon or any melon in 1/2 for you?

Do they charge to core a pineapple for you?

Do they carry purple potatoes, fingerling potatoes or any other weird potato you've seen on a cooking show.

How do you cut a mango?

Do they have plantains?

What's the difference between a sweet potato and a yam?

Do they have any fresh peas?

Insight Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I ask if the they have any jicama today? They
> usually don't but it is a really good vegetable
> grown in Mexico.

Not a huge fan of jicama, but they have it at just about every grocery store in my area. They have it in large quantities too. You can find just about anything from Mexico in our grocery stores. In fact, I bought jicama and zucchini in the same visit. It was my first time ever buying jicama, so the cashier has to ask me what the zucchini is so he can pull up the right code. I figure if he doesn't know what zucchini is, there's no way he'll know what jicama is. So I tell him that it's jicama. He looks at me like I'm a wench for thinking that he's stupid that he doesn't know what jicama is. I'm like duuuuuuuude, dont' give me that look. You're the one who didn't know what a zucchini was!

okay now back to mystery shopping topics.......Hmmmm produce. I always feel like an idiot asking questions in the produce department. I feel like if I'm going to buy something, I should already know how to cook it. I have a tendency to say stupid stuff like......My husband told me to get peppers for dinner, but he didn't tell me which color. Can you tell me the difference between green, yellow, red and orange?

My biggest issue at the grocery stores that I do is that you have to wait for them to greet you, so you need to stand near these people long enough for them to have the chance to greet you. I feel like an idiot putzing around them while they stock the carrots and then ask a question about something on the other end of the store. I like to prepare my questions, but if you never know where the person will be standing, how can you prepare? (I think I'm stalling by writing a lot.....I'm not in the mood to edit!!!!!!)

I always ask if they sell fresh ginger. Then I buy a small piece.

How about these questions in the produce department:

1. Did you just cut your own lunch meat sandwich (you are about to eat) on the same cutting board you cut your fruit? (true story).

2. How many flies can you see circling the salad bar over there?

3. How many times can I walk by you and you not say "hi." (true story)

4. Did I just see you stick your used chewing gum on the side of that wooden barrel filled with nuts?

I know these aren't "fruit/veg questions" but they were questions I was dying to ask, when I was in the produce section as a shopper.