Grossest thing you've ever witnessed with produce, that the store still sold?

What are the best obscure fruits And veggies, in terms of taste? The other day I saw something calle a mamey

What did it take to become a produce expert, when did you start calling yourself a produce expert, and what kind of questions were you expecting?

>>683358827
Well we switch out our main tables on a weekly basis, and store the unsold product in back. Depending on how odd the product is, it can sit in the back room for weeks, or even months... citrus is a good example.

Is organic better?

Is non gmo better?

Have you ever stuck something in your butt and put it back on the shelf?

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Carrot in pooper or GTFO.

>>683359090
Ever have a dragonfruit? They are ok, not amazing. Cool looking tho.

>>683359209
Doing the same shit every day, getting asked the same questions, etc etc

do you really put "produce expert" on your resume?

OP is, as usual, a faggot

>>683359382
Personally, organic is a waste of time. We don't tend to that shelf nearly as often, the produce doesn't last nearly as long, and it comes from oddball companies. But a lot of our non organic produce is also non gmo.

What's the best solution for removing the wax the produce is coated with to extend shelf life?
Do you do any gassing in store or do you fuss with any of that?

What's the best meal one can make only using produce?

>>683358556
Is the pic your work or is it just a random pick of very well stocked produce?

>>683359209
And I wasn't coming into this expecting anything I'm just bored as fuck

>>683358556
how can i tell for real if a melon is ripe?

>>683359636
No

Do you work at the Smart & Final in Pasadena?

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>>683358556
75% of that severely overstocked produce is going to rot before it's sold. How many people eat fucking beets?

>>683359859
Most of the time, the wax on many fruits, like apples, is actually fine to eat, and you shouldn't be concerned. It keeps your fruit fresher for longer. It's why we can keep certain apples in back for weeks. But if you don't like it, just dip it in really hot water

>>683358556
Most melons I try have a faint melon taste but are mostly flavourless. Is there something wrong with me or is this what melons really taste like?

>>683359898
Salad ez

>>683359951
random pic but i can post one of my work if ya like

>>683360054
no sorry

>>683358556
>Ask a produce expert anything.

damn kids, stay in fcking school or you can end up being a produce "expert" too!!

>Going on four years working at a local grocery store

you could have studied your fucking masters of produce in 4 years!
I guess you'll only be an expert now..

>>683358556
Are you and your coworkers a bunch of illegal mexicans locked in the basement handling the produce?

>>683360574
What does your manager think when he catches you taking pictures of vegetables?

>>683360100
The hollow sound is actually a good tell. Otherwise 99% percent of the time it's a total guess, but we get our melons in quite fresh so I always tell guests to wait a day or so before cutting one open.

>>683359090
Mameys are the shit and so are Zapotes
>lookem up

>>683358556
Knowing what you know about the business, are you inspired in any way to farm or become a grocery owner, or a purveyor some kind of artisanal item? I actually am jealous of people who are able to do that kind of thing.....and often, it's just immigrants actually running the farm.

>>683360233
Again, stock photo, but you make a good point anon. Luckily my produce department donates all produce that is no longer good enough to sell.

>>683360368
honestly I'm only a fan of watermelons so I somewhat agree with you.

>>683358556
Ayyy that rotate & stock job looks clean fam.. I worked produce for almost 5 years, loved it.

>>683361083
I assume having an encyclopedic knowledge of the finished product is far different from actually producing said product

>>683358556
Is it true that 60 percent of fruit has been in someone's orifice before it reaches the store?

>>683360628
I still go to school lol

>>683360689
hahaha. no. I'm sure some places are tho

>>683360358
I don't care for the wax because it tends to attract off favors especially if it's been refrigerated. I don't care to submerge it in hot water because it damages the flesh of the fruit.

>>683360884
We all do it actually it's a good way to let other new employees know how a display should look

>>683360368
Cut the melon and let it sit for a few hours or over night. You will get a much deeper flavor. Using a ripe product will also aide in greater flavor. Same goes with pineapple.

>>683358556
Why does produce in grocery stores these days always look like shit compared to what you can get in a restaurant?

>>683361083
I've thought about working up the chain of my store, but I can't see myself doing this for much longer, only because customers are stupid as fuck

>>683361544

I don't care for your autism.

>>683361370
lol sorry its a stock photo bud

>>683361932
I don't care

>>683361315
>nigger detected

>>683361544
They also make a fruit & vegetable cleaner but I'm sure dawn soap works about the same too

>>683361877
I think what you need to do is check out a high end fancy store and the rich MILF clientele......then you might be inspired to get rich serving them

>>683361787
also why we still watermelon cuts

>>683361787
Thanks for the tip, fam. Will try it next time. I also tried putting salt on it like I saw in an anime, but in the end I only liked the salt taste, the melon remained bland.

Got any tips for coconuts? I want to like them too but they taste nothing like the dried coconut you sprinkle on cakes.

You work at a real canadian superstore?

>>683358556
On average, what percentage of all the produce that is put out on display gets sold before it needs to be donated/thrown out/whatever?

>>683362229
nope

>>683362012
That's how I ran my set up I took pride in my produce..

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>>683362194
You can often buy organic unsweetened coconut shreds....I love them. Good fats with lots of fiber.

>>683362335
HAHHHAH way too much. Depends on what tho. Most fruits, like apples, get sold. Tomatoes tho. Just today I donated over 100 pounds of tomatoes easily. So if I had to take a guess like 10-15% gets thrown or donated

>>683358556
Produce worker since 2005 here

>>683362103
lol im white as they come

>>683358556
What's the craziest shit that has happened at the store you work in?

>>683362597
Even rotted, it has some value as future compost, right?

>>683362194
Hey lime & watermelon is bomb give it a chance surprised me

>>683362194
Try lime or any citrus juice and cayenne pepper on melons. Toss them shits and enjoy.

Shave as much of the coconut flesh out as possible and toast it in the oven with a little sunflower oil.

>>683360368
You suck at picking them out. What melons are you trying for here?

Also a produce dept worker. Im an assistant manager though so fuck you.

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>>683362606
You should piggyback and answer the best questions ITT yourself.....you probably have a more interesting perspective.

>>683362736
We have had a robbery at our store's bank while I was working and I wasn't even aware of it until the police showed up

>>683362886
lol I'm also a manager I thought i mentioned that

>>683358556
Which items have the highest/lowest profit margins? Are you supposed to direct customers to higher margin items?

>>683362597
If I wanted to purchase old product on the super cheap whom would I need to speak with? A store manager or produce worker? Would they just give it to me?

>>683363265
Oh you might have, I dident read everything.

>>683362790
Well we dont throw away food, we turn it into compost yes. We have a separate place for food waste

>>683363309
Produce isn't like a fucking IPAD. It changes day to day. One day we might be able to get a case of grapes for $1 and then next they could cost $10. There's no simple answer to that question.

>>683363309
Kind of? It depends on what's on sale that week and what we are able to get from our suppliers for super cheap. Bananas are obviously our biggest seller, but if we are selling new or unique product on sale, hell ya we will talk the shit up like it's no one's business

>>683363560
THIS. for example, green grapes from south america are done as of now. so for like two weeks we haven't had them. Now we do, from mexico, and the price is like almost double.

>>683363309
Not op but i can answer shit. the profit margins change weekly. At my company at least. normally we have one or two bomb items we lose money on for a sale like say strawberries that attract customers then we merchandise high margin shit near it so people pick that up as well. So in a way we kinda lure people into buying stuff thats a high margin.

>>683363309
>>683363560
I figure that produce employees are to direct customers to the most perishable items so they sell while they are at their peak that way they can get the most profit from the item. Instead of donating or composting.

>>683363310
At my store, any produce person could help you out with this. We sell items by the case at a 15% discount. or we sell items that are out of season for dirt cheap.

>>683363938
Bingo BONGO

>>683363932
Fellow produce fag here. From my experience, customers only like food from Mexico if it's avacados. Anything else, we actively try to remove all evidence of Mexico

>>683364012
not really. we do suggestive selling for like a push item for that week but thats about it.

When are the cotton candy grapes coming back?...?.

>>683364400
Like July. And they're gone within weeks. They're also extremely overrated

>>683364228
I had a customer flip shit on me one day because a brand of grape tomatoes we have called santa sweets went from USA to mexico supply. I was just like uhh wtf do you want me to do? lol

>>683364400
hahah I love them but they are super overrated

>>683364097
What about fruit that was bruised or even starting to mold a little? Would they give that away?

>>683364585
And with Trump running for president, my town is pretty conservative and lots of people won't buy shit if its from Mexico. people just don't understand produce

>>683358556
what's the next promotion you'll give yourself from 'produce expert'? General Manager perhaps?

>>683364827
idk about that other guys company, but at my store we are not allowed to give bad stuff to customers even if they ask for fear of being sued or some shit.

>>683364827
At my store, not really, but I've also never been asked, so I guess?

>>683364827
Bruised apples 29 cents/lb

>>683365001
Most people have a very thin grasp on food period. And some an even thinner grasp on reality

>>683365042
produce god

>>683365252
2deep4me dudeeee

>>683364827
The only "bad" stuff we can't reduce and sell is stuff with expired dates

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Also here a picture of my potato section. Nothing crazy but this isn't a stock photo. I know someone asked for it earlier.

>>683358556
what's the code for leeks?

So from me as a produce guy to the others, just curious, what are you bananas priced at? mine are .59 a lb.

>>683365768
55 cents a pound. sale price is usually 28

>>683365199
>>683365208
>>683365219
So I'm guessing the no sell to customers store is a large corporate box store like a meijers or the like, but anon who priced29¢/lb are you at a smaller company or a big box grocer?

gimme the code for bananas, if its 4011 then we gonna fight

>>683365730
pfffffft i dont know the codes i dont work the registers. I mean bananas are 4011 im pretty sure

>>683365730
no fucking idea. i would know if it was like 6 years ago when i was running register but i have not touched a register for a long time thank god.

>>683359209
Sometimes you go out a boy, come back a expert

>>683365654
Ever have a bunch of potatoes rot in you? That is the worst smell ever. Worse than rotten chicken or fish

>>683365993
4011 at my store.

>>683365911
Small business. Locally owned. One owner, one location.

>>683365730
I work as a cashier and i couldn't even tell you the code for leeks, they aren't purchased enough to remember

>>683366138
sometimes they come in with one or two rotted in a bag, stinks like a bitch

>>683366163
is it a kroger store?

>>683366138
rotten potatoes and onions have the worst smell. i cant decide which is worse.

>>683366190
Good to know, thanks for the tip

>>683366256
no, price chopper in the north east

>>683366259
potatoes ez

>>683366201
its 4629.

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>>683365654

>>683358556
Do you actually consider yourself an expert?

Of groceries?

An expert grocer?

>>683366259
Rotten potatoes smells like what I imagine moldy wolf pussy smells like

>>683366531
Niceee pal

>>683358556
From your experience watching customers, what are the most obvious differences between people who buy organic/non-organic produce?

>>683366460
what company do you work for?

>>683366571
nope only for produce. Looks like someone didn't read.

>>683358556
Why is all that produce stacked at such a steep angle? Don't you know all that shit is going to hit the floor when customers start rummaging through it?

>>683366837
safeway. I work as a checker

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Can any of you fellow produce guys guess what this fruit is? I got these randomly without ordering them from my warehouse a week ago.

>>683366834
organic people are passive aggressive assholes like 85% of the time

Op or any other stock jock in this thread, what day generally is the best day to buy produce or does it vary from product to product?

>>683366834
Usually faggots and uptight cunts are the ones who always ask for organic stuff.

>>683366927
i work for dillions, kroger brand. Im a checker and a self checkout attendant mainly

>>683366888
stock photo ours does not look like that

>>683367127
For our store, it's always like the middle of the week. slowest time, we are able to catch up on our displays, so I'd say Tuesday or Wednesday

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Also, this is my department.

>>683367179
nice. what do you get paid hourly? I get 10.50

>>683366996
awwwww shit i've only had to order it once for a guest a long time ago, someone else got this?

OP here. Ok ok ok...I work at Whole Foods. The best fucking store in North America!

>>683366996
i think that is rambutan.
here in costa rica we call it mamon chino, google said its called rambutan, the one in your pic related has gone bad. they are bright red when ripe, tastes really good

>>683367060
>>683367176
Do you look down on people who want a certain product based on their own personal values?

>>683367503
da fuq you guys have plums alreadyyyyy

>>683367596
Only when they act like their food preferences make them better people than me

>>683367583
WF sucks. Wanna be trader joe's

>>683367583
not OP. Fuck whole foods.

hint hint. my store is Wisconsin based

>>683367805
Fair enough

>>683367060
>>683367176
Any specific examples of what they do?

>>683367431
How long you been there? I'm approaching 2 years, not full time, but roughly 35-38 hours a week. I'm at 8.25

>>683367592
>1
>>683367495
Yeah its a rambutan. the whole case came in like that. They still tasted good. Fucking expensive though. 6 for 8.99

Started working for a single small business over 10 years ago, but will be defecting to a new corporate company called Fresh Thyme in 6 days

>>683367988
2 years. part time, ~30 hours a week

>>683367596
nah its just the vibes i get from certain organic shoppers is all. Also most organic shoppers don't get that they are the minority, so we don't prioritize making sure their produce looks as good.

>>683360126
You should

>>683368138
Looks like safeway is treating their peeps better

>>683367968
Mostly they scoff when your available options aren't to their liking or make remarks like "Guess I'll have to go to Kroger"

>>683366927
New poster here, I work for Acme(Pennsylvania), which I believe is owned by the company that owns Safeway.

>>683368138
On and off since 2005. $10/hr, 55 hours a week average. All OT is straight cash.

>>683368322
yeah. I've heard that kroger has harsher management and what not. Safeway is a pretty decent employer

>>683367705
i have all the stone fruit at my store already.

>>683368543
is it albertsons owned?

>>683367968
Ya like I had a woman today who wanted organic ENGLISH cucumbers. 95% of you anons didn't even know there were multiple cucumbers to begin with. First time I've ever had a guest ask for that. I told her I could order it in within the next two days, and she just told me she'll get it at her "better" grocery store, Woodmans.

>>683367503
When you build things like that, how long does it take for customers to start pulling from the bottom?

>>683368598
Just got apricots in this week and they went to shit in a matter of days

>>683368066
the fuck man, i wouldnt eat that.
here in costa rica you just buy them from kids who go pick them to get some extra cash. you can usually buy a bag of about 30 for 1000 colones, thats a little less then 2 dollaroos

>>683368598
we have it all expect plums so

>>683368579
yea our managers are fucking shit heads. where i work the district offices are in our building, so we get big wigs all the time. our store manager is a fucking dumb cunt that has run off multiple other managers and is basically destroying the store

>>683368177
I try to shop organic as much as I can but I understand that. I try not to be a cunt about it but I've definitely given some groans about availablity and quality. And to be fair in not mad about the produce worker who I'm usually forced to interact with because the managers are usually too pussy to fight me. I'm agrivated at the system that rewards cheaper, easier products. To all the produce workers I know I've annoyed, I apologize

how much do you make

my friend is a produce manager at acme and he makes like 45k plus benefits, which isn't bad for stacking fruits and filling out orders

>>683368670
Yeah.
Do you guys do that retarded monopoly game too?

>>683368683
english cucumbers? did she mean european cukes aka seedless cukes?

>>683368684
Depends on the fruit/veggie usually.

I'd like to think that most shoppers at our store understand what is ripe or not. If you're pulling from the bottom, you're A. An asshole or B. Don't want to eat it for a week

>>683368878
yeah that was how my first store was. I got out of there before I got caught in the shitstorm

How much produce do you eat for free on a regular basis?

>>683368925
thx for being real, man. We all appreciate it

>>683368996
yep. luckily it's over now. It was a pain in the ass for us checkers

>>683358556
It's because you work at whole foods

>>683368925
The issue with organic is that is costs us more and it goes bad 3x faster. It just doesn't make sense to always have a huge selection of organics. At the end of the day, we're still a business

>>683369008
Never heard it called anything but English seedless

>>683366163
4011 at my shoprite

>>683369230
Thanks for keeping your sections stocked and working hard for shit pay.

>>683368986
I make 16 a hour full time as an assistant manager at a volume 4 store. volume 4 means its in the bracket of $800k sales a week or more.

>>683369136
being a cashier the shitstorm isnt my problem, but yea, im definitely looking for a new job soon, probably gonna be a bank teller in the same building

>>683368986
I actually only got put into a manager position this year, and I'm an assistant so I still make hourly. but 13 an hr, and again I'm still a student and another plus is no drug tests ever. they dont care.

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>>683360368


Autistic expert on a lot of stuff.

The reason most fruit and veggies are flavorless, is because they are grown in unfertile soil with too much water. Organic heirlooms taste best. Search out the good stuff that small farms sell at farmers markets. Order some heirloom seeds and grow your own. I did this with tomatoes and the flavor was so much more robust and satisfying.

>>683369169
our store has a lot of cameras and a strict grazing policy so none ahahah

Let's get more pics, fellas

>>683369169
not much really. i try new or random exotic stuff so i can describe it to customers.

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>>683358556


Picture of OP

>>683369350
nope

>>683369378
Right, I understand that. But, systematically if everyone was buying organic the stock would move faster, creating less product to throw away

>>683358556
What's a relatively unknown fact about the produce business that would surprise the average /b/tard?

>>683369609
>disniggagetsit

Also work produce at my supermarket. Ever thought about shoving a cucumber up your ass, because i do, especially when they are fresh off the ice

>>683358827
Interesting story related to this question. One day one of the boxes of roma tomatoes we got was covered in mold. Like completely. So much mold that it looked like a huge spider web or some shit. You couldn't even see much red from the tomatoes. Anywho. We were getting pretty low on tomatoes so we needed all we could get, so my manager literally told me to go through the tomatoes and try and pick any out that looked salvageable. God damn that shit was gross. Fucking stunk.

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>>683370009
Hahaha hardly

older pic incoming

>>683370684
I havery never stocked a cucumber that had ice in the box

>>683370191
I just don't think people know how much shit gets thrown away honestly

>>683370790
We once bought a watermelon box of pickles. Fucking pickles. Shit went bad before we even sold like 1/10th of it. We made a new kid on his first day take the entire pallet/box out to the dumpster and use a shovel to throw them away

>>683370790
Oh and to add. Not OP. So OP how long does it take to be a produce expert? I worked in a produce department for 3 yrs in highschool. Although its been a bit, so maybe I have lost my expertise.

>>683370790
The worst is when a bad pallet of blueberries comes in and you have to go through boxes and boxes of berries, refilling boxes. awful.

>>683370842
We have ice under the shelves at our store to keep shit fresh so they are always cold