Has Walmart become a dumping ground for produce?

[scoots]

I've held-off writing this for years but as time passes, it seems to me that WalMart's grocery section seems to be full of just marginal stuff.

I bought a bag of shelled pecans that were so old they were vile - they might have been reconstituted saw dust sweepings.

Celery and other produce that turns brown the day after I get it home. -- and this stuff is still supposed to be within date.

Publix is opening inside a few days. That will make a welcome change.

 

[rp2813]

Around here, I've found that the produce at Smart & Final (the "Express" stores, which carry items in reasonable sizes more like what you'll find at the average supermarket) generally isn't fresh.  Even onions can go bad in a relative hurry.  I've noticed similar circumstances at Sprouts -- along with generally poor quality in the first place.  Produce may be cheaper at those stores but prepare to compromise on quality, and you had better use it real fast. 

 

[turquoisedude]

Here in Canada, the WalMart Supercentre stores with fresh produce in the grocery section are a must to avoid in my book...  The prices are low, but supply is sketchy at best - when advertised items are in stock, the quality is very poor.  

When they first began converting stores to Supercentres, the opposite was true and the UK version of WalMart, ASDA, was always well-stocked with fresh fruits and veggies whenever I had occaison to shop there.  

Knowing how WalMart purchasing works (they basically tell suppliers what price will be paid), they are no doubt finding that suppliers are not bowing down to them as quickly as they once did.  

 

[chachp]

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hate Walmart.  Nuff said.</span>

 

[rpms]

I really don't find Walmart cheaper than the grocery stores. No Frills has better deals and I always think the produce at Walmart looks like it has been used.
Reminds me of that sketch from SCTV. Al Peck's used fruit. Fresh off a train derailment.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Don’t you mean dumping ground for BAD produce?!

Yes, I worked there and some of it horrid, maybe once in a great while good, but truth be told, a place that sells other kinds of goods should not sell groceries, at least not other than maybe pre-packaged stuff…

If it had a full-serve meat counter like Meijer you’d be getting quality meats there too probably or at least custom-measured to how much per-pound that you want…

(And there buying FOUR limes for $2 beat my (I work at Kroger) $2 for only only THREE!

— Dave

 

[fan-of-fans]

I can recall at times the produce at Publix not being great either...

 

[mrsalvo]

I went to WalMart last week as it was close by to pick up ingredients for a salad, the produce was the WORST tasting stuff I had ever bought. It had to be old, had a soured, metallic taste to it. It was awful. Celery went bad after a couple of days also. Never again.
Dollar General sells produce in a location not far from me and it was in better looking shape than WalMart, that’s saying something!

Barry

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

I remember years ago some lady buying a couple acorn squash both of that seemed to be beaten up everywhere wondering if once they got brought home actually cooked and eaten or just thrown away, chalking up a small loss… (they looked so bad, I wonder what the rest in the bin must have looked like)

Let’s talk about GOOD produce: At least my Kroger that I work at and the one around the block from me has fresh fruits and vegetables enough to live up to our Fresh For Everyone campaign and not suffering from the seemingly epidemic that we’ll never eat Good For You Food ever again…

I’m short, there (and an occasional shopping at Aldi my dad snd sister do—not me) has great produce…!

— Dave

 

[vacerator]

Depends on the seson too!!

Also weather. Too much rain, bad for lettuces, berries, etc. Not enough, bad for corn, squash, beans, grapes, etc. Irrigation is good, so long as it' isn't chlorinated water.