3 Ways to Save Money on a Raw Food Diet
In Tuesday’s post I talked about 3 ways to waste money on a raw diet.
You didn’t think I would leave you with that, did you? Come on, I’m nicer than that. 
Here are my top 3 easy ways to *save* money on a raw food diet.
#1: Buy in season
To put it bluntly, food in season costs less.
Here’s an example. When cantaloupes are in season during the summer months, I can find them for as cheap as $1.50. When they are not in season, they can cost as much as $3 PER MELON! And we’re talkin’ really tiny melons with hardly any flavor.
Because the food is at its prime, you run less of a risk of choosing yucky fruit when you buy in season. For instance, if I happen to buy cantaloupe during the spring, 9 times out of 10 I have to throw it out. But during the summer, almost every single fruit that I choose is a taste sensation. ☺
And that’s another point to bring up. Food that is in season tastes a MILLION TIMES better than food that is not in season. You really cannot go wrong buying seasonal fruit.
#2: Buy in bulk
As I stated in Tuesday’s article, I used to buy all of my produce at expensive health foods stores. Not only was the fruit expensive, the quality wasn’t even that great!
Luckily, I soon stumbled upon an awesome resource for buying high-quality produce at great prices.
*Buy-In-Bulk Stores*
Buy-in-bulk stores are stores that offer a variety of goods at discounted prices. Because you buy the goods in bulk, forgoing packaging charges, you are able to save some green.
Costco and Sam’s Club are two examples of these stores. You need a membership for both of these. I have both in my area, but I only shop at Costco. The price is $50 per year and the savings I get more than make up for the annual fee.
Plus, the quality is amazing compared to the supermarket! I get awesome Ataulfo mangoes each Spring, a variety that isn’t available anywhere else in my area!
Currently, I buy the majority of my food from buy-in-bulk stores.
*Wholesale Distributors*
If you *really* want to save some moolah, visit a nearby wholesale produce distributor. These are the companies that supply produce and other foods to your local grocery stores and health food shops. There are even organic specific distributors in some areas.
To locate a distributor in your area, simply do a google search for “wholesale produce distributor.” You can also talk to the produce department at your grocery store, health food store, etc. to see where they get their produce.
Make sure to contact your distributor *before* you actually head over there to load up. Some distributors do not sell to the public, while others have specific dates and times for you to come and shop.
I know buying from a distributor seems like a lot of work, but anything is a little bit time consuming when you first start out. I’ve just started this process myself, and it really isn’t that hard.
Once you’ve found a distributor that you like and set up a routine, it’s no different than a weekly trip to the supermarket.
Here is a great, in depth article on buying wholesale produce from someone with lots more experience on the subject.
*Other ways to save*
If you do not have a Costco in your area and cannot find a distributor to buy from, you can always look to your local Walmart or grocery store. Some stores do offer small discounts for buying in large quantities. However, I have never had any luck with this in my area.
Another option is to join a local co-op. As a member of a co-op, you are presented every week with a list of available produce from local farmers. Generally, you can then order from that list and pick up your food on a specific day of the week. Some co-ops also have annual membership fees.
Joining a co-op also means that you are contributing to local produce farmers, which brings me to the 3rd way to save…
#3: Buy local
The easiest way to buy local produce is to visit your area’s farmer’s market. Almost every city has one and they generally start in April or May and last until October or November.
Here in Memphis, we have a great farmer’s market downtown. It happens every Saturday from April to October and has really become a nice outing for my family and I.
Now, I know that many of you will argue that farmer’s markets will actually *cost* you money because the food is more expensive.
With some items, especially free-range meat and dairy products, you are right. But I have found that fruits and vegetables are generally comparable in price to what is offered at the supermarket. And almost every farmer offers a discount on bulk buys.
And that’s where you really save money. Think about it: most people buy very little when they shop and so that’s what the farmers expect. All of a sudden, you start showing up to the market every week to buy *pounds* of produce.
I guarantee you every farmer will be *dying* to offer you a discount just so you’ll buy from them.
An even better way to buy locally is to go directly to the farms themselves. I have a wonderful orchard near my home that is keeping me loaded with perfect peaches, nectarines, and plums…for only $.75 per pound!!!!!!
This is the lowest cost I have ever seen peaches. And nothing beats the added benefit of picking fruit myself that was growing just 30 minutes from my home.
If you have a produce farm nearby, I highly recommend that you give them a call. That way, you can set up a shopping day that is convenient for you and start building a great relationship with the people who grow your food.
But the best part about buying locally? The food is super fresh, always in season, and extra tasty!
Where to Get Started
If you are feeling a little overwhelmed. Start with your local grocery stores first and see if they offer any discounts. Then, do a search for local farmer’s markets and schedule your weekly trip.
To find a farmer’s market or farm near you, visit Local Harvest and Pick Your Own.
That should be enough to help you find some great produce and really save some green.
Go raw and be fit,
Swayze
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