10 Reasons Costco's Produce Just Isn't Worth the Money

Costco can be a way to save money on groceries like pantry staples and frozen foods.

However, its produce may be lacking, and customers are not that impressed with some issues that you could find when shopping at Costco.

So if produce is on your shopping list, keep an eye out for these issues and avoid it if you’re worried about these issues.

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1. It’s hard to finish before it goes bad

One of the best Costco shopping hacks is buying products in bulk, which can save you money on a per-unit cost.

But it can be hard to finish a bulk amount of strawberries or raspberries before they go bad, so you’ll end up throwing out food and wasting money.

2. It spoils too fast

It can be hard to buy fresh food sometimes because you might be worried you won’t eat it all before it spoils.

However, there are cases when it’s not you and fresh produce can spoil quickly and leave you in the lurch after only a few days.

3. The freshest items aren’t on display

Most of Costco’s items are stored on shelves, which you can see when you wander the retailer's tall aisles.

Produce isn’t like shelf-stable items at Costco, and they usually have to remove the oldest produce first, leaving older produce available for shoppers.

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4. It’s just cold

Costco is good about keeping some of its produce in large walk-in fridges to keep things chilled throughout the day.

But those freezers can be extra cold and discouraging, especially during the summer months when you walk in in shorts and a T-shirt.

5. Produce isn’t ripe

It can be frustrating to walk into your local Costco hoping to pick up some bananas only to find that the store is stocked with only green options.

It can be even worse when those options go from under-ripe to rotten without any step in the middle where you could actually eat the fruit, causing you to toss them before you can take a bite.

6. The cost isn’t better

It’s important to compare per-unit costs when you’re shopping in bulk to get a good comparison to produce at a local grocery store that may not be sold in such large quantities.

When you do that, you might be surprised that you’re paying more per banana or pint of strawberries at Costco than you would at your local grocery store.

7. It’s inconsistent from trip to trip

One good thing about shopping at Costco is that you might have some favorite products that you consistently buy, like frozen pizzas or rotisserie chicken. Those items always end up on your list because they’re also good quality.

So it can be tough when you get great oranges at one Costco trip and then a whole spoiled bag on the next trip. That change could make you less likely to want to add more produce to your future shopping lists.

8. It’s inconsistent from store to store

You may have found a Costco store that’s great at stocking up on produce, and it doesn’t go bad quickly.

Costco has more than 600 stores in the U.S., which means you might be able to find more than one within driving distance of your home, but you probably don’t want to travel farther just to get to the one with better produce options.

9. The only good stuff is frozen

Costco does have some delicious vegetables and fruit, such as a veggie mix for sheet-pan dinners or a berry mix for smoothies.

Those options can be great if you have the freezer space or want something you can use from frozen, but you might not feel the retailer pays as much attention to the fresh versions.

10. Produce isn’t handled well

It can be easy to set some tomatoes or avocados on a small shelf at the grocery store. However, it can be much harder to do the same with produce you’re serving up as a bulk buy.

Be mindful of double-checking produce for extra bruises or seeing if items got smushed due to overstacking bulk produce when they sit at Costco waiting for buyers.

Bottom line

Costco has plenty of stuff on the shelves to fill your cart, so you can save money on essentials or stock up on seasonal items.

But skip the produce and keep that cash in your wallet rather than wasting it on subpar fruits and vegetables.

Instead, consider adjusting your grocery budget to see if you can spend that cash somewhere else or even save it for later to give your budget a boost.

Money tips that can work for everyone

No matter what your bank account balance is, there's always an opportunity to optimize and improve your finances. Here's a quick checklist of things you can look at today.

Focus on paying off your debt. Debt can hold you back from making progress with your overall financial well-being. Aside from cutting expenses, there are tools that can help you pay off debt faster like balance transfer credit cards and debt counseling.

Earning extra income can give you breathing room. If finances are tight, earning some extra money to supplement your income can make a huge difference. A new job is one option to consider, but if you're not ready to make a big change or already retired, a part-time side job could be a better choice.

Cut your expenses. It sounds painful and so not fun, but it doesn't have to be. Take a look at your biggest expenses because that's where you'll probably find the biggest savings. For example, auto insurance rates have been soaring so shopping around for a new insurance company can be the fastest way to cut your bill. Also, look for ways to cut your grocery bill (despite rising inflation).