[Zaheer]

I find the produce prices often to be absurdly lower. These items are cheaper to begin with but if you're making fresh food consistently then it probably adds up. The biggest difference I've observed is that the asian grocery stores buy tier 2/3 produce rather than the big supermarkets that have perfect looking produce.

[kwertyoowiyop]

Exactly! The big supermarkets have tomatoes that look perfect, but taste like wax. The Asian groceries have lumpy odd-colored tomatoes that actually taste good.

[freedomben]

We've had a garden and orchard for most years for quite some time now (several decades) and this is one of the most stark and interesting things I've observed as well. Garden produce is nearly always smaller, lumpy-looking, and by appearances alone looks to be quite inferior. However, they taste great compared to those "perfect" veggies and fruits in the grocery stores. In mid-winter when the home-grown produce is gone and we go back to buying from the store (or when on trips and such), it's often a big disappointment. If you're willing to spend $$$ on organic produce at mid to higher end stores, you can get close to the quality (though never on strawberries and raspberries IME), but the cost can be pretty ridiculous to the point of feeling wasteful.

[tayo42]

Like heirloom tomatoes? Those are everywhere now?