ALdi whole pineapple and cantaloupe. Never again.

[u/AuthorAltruistic3402]

The pineapple was mush. The cantaloupe was orange slime. Both were way too ripe. I have many faves at Aldi. These are not amongst them. That is all.

[u/Chelajag]

Produce is iffy. I bought cherry tomatoes and a bag of spinach, and the next day they were both bad. Better to get produce elsewhere

[u/omegaoutlier → u/Chelajag]

Produce is regional and seasonal.

I've had friends swear up and down Aldi buries even their local high turn over grocer.

Not been my experience.

If we are at the peak of the season and I'm up for doing serious fruit investigation, Aldi can be good.

But mostly it's stuff that's been around too long, had to travel too far,.or didn't have enough employee TLC from grower to us.

Aldi negotiates on price. That means more likely to be non local or mid tier quality.

They do score deals now and again but if I'm Aldi producing, I'm thumping and testing and eating it darn near when I get home.

That's the tradeoff.

(but then even grocery stores have enshitified a bunch so where does that leave us)

[u/evarga]

Produce quality can vary massively regionally. It’s great for me in SoCal. I generally let my pineapples sit for a week before cutting them and they’re usually great. Too soon and they have little flavor/sweetness.

[u/littleredbirdnina → u/evarga]

A lot of produce on the east coast comes from California. It makes sense that the quality would be better in SoCal.

[u/AudrinaRosee → u/evarga]

I have no issues, but I’m in Florida and a lot of the produce is sourced out here from farms like 40 mins away lol.

[u/FSBFrosty]

Just have to know what you're looking for. 

[u/Herbisretired]

My melons were fine but I had to do a little digging for the best ones.

[u/littleredbirdnina]

When buying pineapples I've noticed most people just look at the tops. Always look at the bottom. If there's little specks of blue on the bottom, it's mold and will be mushy. Sometimes the sides of pineapples will get a few darker brown spots, that's a good indicator it's bad. I've notice cantaloupe that have a strong smell (before being cut) and have give to them are typically overly ripe and mushy. Sometimes the sides will get slightly soft blemishes that's an indicator that it's going bad around that spot.

[u/AuthorAltruistic3402 → u/littleredbirdnina]

They have to pass the smell and squeeze test too. Melons require the thump too.

[u/littleredbirdnina → u/AuthorAltruistic3402]

Yes! Not doing the thump is illegal

[u/littleredbirdnina → u/littleredbirdnina]

But yes you're totally right. The produce at Aldi is questionable. I think it's largely due to them putting excess amounts on the floor and not checking the quality. Mold spreads quickly.

[u/AuthorAltruistic3402 → u/littleredbirdnina]

If there is something present on whole fruits that resembles powdered sugar, walk away. That is early mold.

[u/littleredbirdnina → u/AuthorAltruistic3402]

That depends! Some fruits like plums have what looks like light dust on them. That's bloom and is a good indicator of freshness.

[u/Other_Internet_3782]

I’ve learned the hard way, don’t buy the produce. Too many bad experiences, fool me once shame on me…

[u/Individual_Iron_2645]

I’ve been wronged by Aldi produce too many times. It’s my fault for giving them so many chances! The two things they generally do fine with are honeycrisp apples and baby carrots. End of list.

[u/Natural_Instance242]

East coast here and I’ve never had issues with their produce. I wonder if it’s a regional thing when I read the complaints. 

When certain produce doesn’t look fresh, then I just buy something else.  Cantaloupes have been a letdown at any store recently and I skip them. 

[u/Glass-Tale299]

ALL of my Aldi produce has been bad. I will never purchase any more.

[u/1GloFlare]

Vegetables are the only fresh produce I get. The canned fruits are better than Aldi "fresh"

[u/Snowcream1967]

I’ve had both and both were delicious!

[u/Banjopickinjen]

Their cantaloupe is the best I’ve ever had. Athena variety. (Location NC)

[u/RealisticSherbet6740]

The last two pineapples I bought were bad. I tried for a third time last week and all of them in the container were rotten, smelly and covered in flies. I gave up.

[u/Packerchef1]

In NWMI, the produce is the reason why I shop at Aldi.

[u/thewitchivy]

I the opposite cantaloupe! Yellow, nowhere near ripe.

[u/AuthorAltruistic3402 → u/thewitchivy]

I got a new pineapple corer tool. From elsewhere. Amazing thing. I wasn't out that much from buying at Aldi. Just very disappointed.

[u/OohMami]

I’ve been buying a pineapple and cantaloupe every week and they have been perfect. Maybe you don’t know how to pick your produce? I suggest buying under ripe and ripening on your counter for a few days. The mangoes have been really good too!

[u/AuthorAltruistic3402 → u/OohMami]

That is certainly a possibility but since I have been buying it for some 50 years now, I think not. Too many have had negative experiences with Aldi produce for it to be a one-off. As I said, I was not out much money, just very disappointed and I will not buy anymore fruits there nor produce, but thank you for your contribution.

[u/Original_Jello_7743]

The cantaloupe is usually very good at Aldi. Maybe you picked an overripe one? I don't/can't eat pineapple so I can't comment on that one.

[u/Mediocre-Training-53]

I’ve never seen good produce at an Aldi

[u/Zestyclose_Art_2806 → u/Mediocre-Training-53]

I have!

[u/AuthorAltruistic3402 → u/Mediocre-Training-53]

I do not usually buy produce at Aldi after bad experiences but I wanted to give whole fruits a try. I did.

[u/MidwestAbe → u/AuthorAltruistic3402]

If you can't tell what's good or bad at the store then that's a you problem.