How to Shop Fresh on a Budget

Eating fresh does not have to mean spending more. After ten years behind the Greenbarrow counter, here is what actually moves the needle: shop the seasons, buy the whole vegetable instead of the pre-cut tray, and make friends with the markdown shelf.

Seasonal produce can cost half as much as its flown-in counterpart, and it tastes like it grew somewhere on purpose. Whole carrots, whole heads of lettuce, whole squash — a few minutes of prep at home saves real money every week.

And never skip the day-old bread rack or the bruised-tomato box. They are the raw material of soups, sauces, and the best bruschetta you will eat all year.