5 Groceries Frugal People Should Buy Before Summer

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If you’re a smart shopper, you probably know that summer brings more than just warmer weather and longer days. It can also mean changing grocery prices.

And this year, there’s more at play than just the supply and demand of changing seasons. Due to upcoming tariffs, grocery items that are imported from certain countries could go up in price.

With potential price increases, frugal shoppers may be thinking about ways to save money at the grocery store ahead of summer.

Here are some items to consider buying before summer hits.

Also see these hacks that can help you cut your grocery bill in half.

Fruit

Fruit is a grocery staple during warmer seasons. And there are a few to consider buying now.

Strawberries should be at the top of your list of fruits to buy before summer begins. In late spring, they’re at the peak of both supply and flavor. 

As reported by CNBC, Mexico supplies about 90% of the avocados consumed in the U.S., so this already-expensive produce to get even pricier. Frugal shoppers may want to consider buying some avocadoes now ahead of summer.

Mangoes become a lot more affordable in late spring as imports from Mexico and Central America flood the market before summer. Pineapples also reach peak supply in spring, so enjoy this tropical fruit at better prices while you can. Both fruits are imported from Mexico (as well as other countries), so their prices could be hit by tariffs.

Vegetables

With all that fruit, you can’t forget about vegetables. And some may be better to buy before summer than others.

Asparagus, for example, is one of the best vegetables you can buy before summer gets started. Asparagus is a spring vegetable that reaches its peak in April and May.

Fresh peas also have their peak season just before summer. Not only are spring peas likely to be cheaper, but off-season frozen peas can be inferior to fresh ones.

Cereals and Grains

There’s not much advantage to buying grains like wheat, rice or oats in one season or another in terms of peak freshness or availability. They have a long shelf life and are readily available year-round. That makes them a great buy for frugal shoppers any time of year, as they can stock up in bulk and save money.

However, Canada exports large amounts of wheat, barley and oats to the U.S., so tariffs could influence prices here. Frugal shoppers could consider stocking up now before any potential price hikes take hold.

Sweeteners

If you’re a fan of maple syrup, you may want to stock up before summer arrives. The spring maple tapping season creates a natural window when fresh syrup is most abundant and affordable.

Canada is, of course, a top provider of maple syrup to the U.S. Additionally, Mexico is a top supplier of sugar to the U.S. Due to potential price increases, frugal shoppers could consider stocking up ahead of summer.

Alcoholic Beverages

Imported beer brands like Corona, Modelo and Dos Equis will likely be affected by tariffs. Tequila could also be affected, meaning increased prices and even potentially less availability.

As reported by Reuters, UBS analysts are predicting large alcohol producers to hike prices between 2% and 5% as a result of the tariffs if the producers don’t absorb the costs themselves.

So if any frugal shoppers are planning some summer parties and are planning on having some alcoholic beverages, they may want to consider making a few purchases now.

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