We’ve all been there. Glossy, deep red cherries on sale, but it would take over a week to get through the amount packed in the overflowing cellophane bags lined up in the produce aisle. Should you hide a few handfuls in the Brussels sprouts bin before you hit the checkout? What’s the move?
It depends on how the fruit is priced
If the produce is priced by the pound, many grocery stores allow customers to purchase whatever amount they need, though store policies can vary. If it’s sold for a flat price per bag or container, don’t remove fruit yourself—ask someone in the produce department if they can help.
Kosta Drosos, general manager of Agora Market in Chicago, says “We don’t have a problem with customers taking grapes or cherries out of the bag to purchase a smaller amount.” Many people assume you can’t, but she understands that not everyone needs the full prepacked amount. For example, sometimes a customer is shopping for one or two people, has a specific recipe in mind, or simply wants to spend less.
“We also don’t want to deter people from not buying any at all!” says Drosos. “Allowing customers that flexibility also helps reduce food waste, since people are less likely to buy more than they need and have fruit go unused.”
When it's OK to remove grapes or cherries from the bag
Use your best judgment when deciding to maneuver the fruit or vegetables into a smaller format. It’s all about respecting the produce, and your fellow shoppers, says Susan Choung, senior food editor at Good Housekeeping. “For more delicate fruit, like grapes, I think it makes sense to leave them alone once they’re pre-bagged or ask for assistance,” she says. “While a shopper technically could remove a few clusters and put them in another bag, I don’t think we should encourage everyone to handle the bruise-prone fruit more than necessary.”
“And definitely don’t pluck individual grapes off the stem,” Choung advises. “If you need a smaller bunch, ask a produce clerk who can trim off a cluster with scissors—that’s much gentler on the fruit.”
If a bag is already open and the fruit is sold by weight, use discretion. Minimize handling and avoid squeezing or sorting through multiple bags.
What if the bag is sealed?
If the fruit comes in a sealed bag, shrink-wrapped package, or clamshell container, leave it intact. Those packages are meant to be sold as-is, and if the price is a flat rate rather than by the pound, removing fruit could mean you’re paying the same price for less. If you only need a smaller amount, ask someone in the produce department if they can help.
A few grocery store etiquette rules to follow
“Etiquette isn’t just about what’s technically allowed—it’s about being considerate of others,” says Choung. “Just because you can handle every bag until you’ve pared down your haul to the perfect amount doesn’t mean you should. Remember that someone else is taking that fruit home after you.”
Here’s a smart tip from Reddit: “I've been using one bag like a glove to put my cherries into a second bag. LOL. I don't want to stick my bare hands into produce that someone else will be eating.”
Drosos drives this point home. “We just ask that everyone handles the produce carefully and respectfully so we can continue to provide the freshest quality for all of our customers.”
