While sitting here having my morning coffee I realized I had not told Krogers about my recent decisions on grocery shopping. I have been a customer of Krogers for over 10 years and over that time things have declined drastically in the produce department. I must say before I get into the meat of the subject that it's not the employees in the department they have always been very helpful by going to the back to see if there is any fresher produce there. The problem is that the last year or two the produce just comes in old and new is mixed in with the old. A good example, I bought rutabagas one day and about a week later I cut into them and they were soft, anyone who knows root vegetables knows they keep for months and months and stay nice. I just can't imagine how old it must have been for that to happen and are long void of any nutrition. This was my defining moment, the straw that broke the camels back etc. I can no longer spend our hard earned money on inferior produce when I can go to Costco or better yet Walmart and find 100 fold fresher produce and for less money. Just yesterday I purchased a fresh bag of green beans at Walmart, a couple of weeks earlier I found just as fresh at Aldi's. I haven't seen as fresh in many years at Krogers. The real conundrum is that many of the same items I buy on a regular basis are the same price or much less at alternative grocery stores. The other contributing factor is It seems like every time I go to find a product once carried, it is no longer on the shelves, things that are not purchased often like say certain flavors of Knoor bullion (found these on Amazon), Hickory seasoning salt and anchovy past, they even took away my sugar free marmalade. It saddens me to say but I have decided to leave the Kroger family for fresher produce and better prices. I will miss the long time employees and want them to know that it was nothing to do with them but corporates need to meet the bottom line and save them money instead of taking care of it's long time customers. Karen
