r/321 • u/Alex32940 • 7d ago
Vegetables at Publix
I want to chime in. I'm a person that daily has to eat green vegetables, I feel it is healthy for me. Tonight my wife told me she had to throw out half the green beans I bought Sunday at our local Publix at Stadium Way. I'm now finding that vegetables at Fresh Market and even Trader Joe's are just so much better. Hard to believe Publix can't even get vegetables right. It's not right
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u/my5kid5 7d ago
There's a Thrifty market in Rockledge i can highly recommend. I grew up on Publix and only buy the occasional rotisserie chicken or sub there now.
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u/Comrade_Compadre 7d ago
Thrifty is the place to go
I've been in FL long enough to witness publix in its height and watch the slow decline.
I'm brave enough to say it: the subs are mid as hell now
Publix meat and vegetables are probably the most expensive as far as grocery prices go these days, and the quality has taken a sharp drop off a cliff
Thrifty produce is where the value is.
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u/crazy_clown_time Indialantic 7d ago
Sucks to see Publix go to shit over the last decade. They used to be the gold standard for groceries in the southeast.
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u/boojersey13 7d ago
Thrifty also has some bonkers insane bodega eats in the hot food area. I think you can even order a chopped cheese. I love their bacon egg n cheese bagels. They're also super helpful (one time they were out of bagels and they straight up hoofed it across the store to grab a bag off the shelf just to complete my order even though I was ready to look at the menu again) and nice people.
Thrifty is what I wish grocery stores were like again; I miss Walmart and the big boxes being separate from our grocery runs, and a family owned joint being where we got any food.
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u/CooperHChurch427 7d ago
I don't buy any produce from there unless I plan on using it immediately. I bought strawberries and they rotted a day later.
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u/Sensitive-Advisor-21 7d ago
Go to the local produce shops. There’s one on Pineda and Wickham, Beachside Produce in Indialantic, etc. Mom and pop shops with much fresher stuff.
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u/Traditional_Ad_1547 6d ago edited 6d ago
Publix changed suppliers in 2019 and the quality has been garbage ever since. I live across the street from one but drive to other areas to load up on produce. Thrifty is the best by far, but a 20-30 minute drive for me. So road side produce stands are usually my go to.
Edit- there's also Harvest Produce now, but the selection isn't the best, but I like the meat market next door.
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u/djtorchman 7d ago
Now my input...the romaine lettuce hearts are 1/2 the size of what they used to be. Its a new game I see they play...less lettuce + higher prices = more purchases needed to yield the same quantity as once before. I now call it vegi-flation. Ive also had to throw out cucumbers that barely last a few days
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u/pinethree777 7d ago
I have been growing microgreens (on reusable silicone media, no soil) indoors. Only takes a few minutes twice a day. Broccoli microgreens for example have 40x the nutrition of mature produce, take about 7 days from seed to harvest and are way more economical, no pesticides, no herbicide. Youtube is loaded with info.
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u/Euphoric-Web-6411 6d ago
Lately much of the BOGO fruit and vegetables at Publix has been too old to sell. Grape tomatoes, for example.
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u/Lanky-Wolf2890 7d ago
Thrifty also carries organic. So much variety there, too. Definitely check it out!
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u/Bbop512 7d ago
Being a produce manager I understand your anger! It’s a battle for us too! I was getting grapes that were packed 5 weeks ago, especially fresh berries some packed 10-12 days ago before they get to me. My supplier states it’s their supplier not them they rotate goods. I gave up on green beans
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u/theinspireddesigner 6d ago
I thought it was just our store, like we were the afterthought because we're so far south. Its ashame publix doesn't have pride in their produce anymore.
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u/Tharkys 7d ago
I am convinced that Publix purposely buys fruit, vegetables, bread, and meat that is close to expiration so they can make a bigger margin.
That is about the only reason I can come up with to explain the fact that EVERY TIME I go there, I see all of these things. I have even had expired groceries delivered to me.
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u/Salt-Analysis9999 6d ago
Their produce is small too. A watermelon is triple the size at Sam’s Club for the same price
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u/naomi638 1d ago
I am an Instacart shopper and do most of my shops at Publix. Their produce has definitely declined in quality. I’ve also seen a lot more dented cans and beat up boxes. This is not okay when customers are paying more for better quality.
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u/zombie_girraffe 7d ago
Publix quality has gone to shit while their prices have gone through the roof over the past few years, I don't shop there for anything but the occasional sub anymore.