Shop wisely: One bad apple can boost costs

Overall, food prices are expected to rise as much as 5.5 percent this year. Produce is among the hardest hit. (Mark Duncan/Associated Press)

NEW YORK - As fruit and vegetable prices soar, you can save money by taking time in the produce aisle to make sure bad apples aren't sneaking into your cart.

The average household throws out nearly a quarter of the fruits and vegetables it buys. For a family of four, that's about $500 each year, according to the University of Arizona.

One reason: Many people aren't sure how long they can safely keep produce.

Knowing how to pick and store it can help extend shelf life. The methods vary, but a few rules of thumb generally apply.

The first is to immediately inspect your goods once you get home and pluck out any spoiled specimens.

"It really is true that one bad apple can make the entire bunch go bad," said James Parker, who's in charge of buying produce for Whole Foods Markets.

Storing produce in optimal conditions can extend freshness. Take note of how fruits and veggies are displayed at the supermarket. Cherries, for example, are shipped cold - so refrigeration is the best option for storage.

"The minute you break that environment, the decomposition begins," Parker said.

Tomatoes, on the other hand, break down more quickly when refrigerated. Not sure about an item? Ask a produce department manager or check online.

Most produce - especially mushrooms - stores better unwashed. A good rinse is best saved for right before eating or cooking. Adding citrus juice to precut fruit can keep it fresh longer.

Buying regionally and seasonally can blunt escalating prices, too. Right now, for example, berries, peaches, and nectarines abound at reasonable prices in most parts of the country.

Overall, food prices are expected to rise as much as 5.5 percent this year.

Fruits and vegetables are among the hardest hit by rising food prices, since they are processed less (if at all), which makes it harder to spread around cost.

Still, people often end up buying more produce than they eat.

One reason is that "people want to perceive themselves as eating healthier than they do," said Timothy Jones, author of the University of Arizona study on food waste.

Making matters worse is the tendency to buy in bulk - which ironically happens more often when people are trying to save.

"You need to be realistic," Parker said.