USA TODAY 10Best
Find the best fresh produce at these 10 grocery stores across the country
Best Grocery Store for Produce (2024)
The produce section is often the first stop for shoppers at the grocery store. It beckons with its veritable rainbow of fresh fruits and vegetables.
These 10 grocery stores across the U.S. have been selected by an expert panel and voted by our readers as the best for produce. That's thanks to their always-fresh quality stock, vast range of options, and — in many cases — their commitment to source as locally as possible.
- Wegmans Food Markets
- New Seasons Market
- Publix Super Markets
- Fresh Thyme Market
- ALDI
- 99 Ranch Market
- Gelson's Markets
- Heinen's Grocery Store
- The Fresh Market
- Hy-Vee
Photo courtesy of fcafotodigital // Getty Images
No. 10:
For those with busy schedules, Wegmans has one of the larger grocery selections of time-saving pre-packaged fruits, berries, vegetables, and salads. Additionally, they've even got their own organic farm and orchard in upstate New York, where they've trialed over 100 organic crops and are on a mission to extend the northeastern growing season.
Photo courtesy of New Seasons Market
No. 9:
Pacific Northwest shoppers love New Seasons Market, as it brings the best of organic and non-GMO local produce to Portland and the surrounding area. Recipes are featured on the store website, so you can make the most of the freshest seasonal fruit and vegetables around.
Photo courtesy of Publix Super Markets
No. 8:
Publix works with selected farmers to ensure that their fruits and vegetables are ripe and tasty, hand-picked at maturity. You'll find really colorful produce here, and there's an excellent selection of fresh fruit cut in-store daily. Publix features a large choice of USDA-certified organic produce as well and can be counted on for a wide choice of vegetables and herbs.
Photo courtesy of FatCamera // Getty Images
No. 7:
Partnering with local growers, Fresh Thyme Market has an excellent selection of Midwest-grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs. As they source their goods from nearby farms, produce spends less time in transit and storage, translating to riper and more flavorful and aromatic goodies for the consumer.
Photo courtesy of ALDI
No. 6:
ALDI enjoys a healthy following for their affordable prices and fresh, locally grown produce that's replenished daily. They even stock some organic items and brands like the non-GMO-focused Simply Nature.
Photo courtesy of AlexRaths / iStock Via Getty Images Plus
No. 5:
Customers love the vast selection of produce at 99 Ranch Market, one of the largest Asian supermarket chains in the country. In addition to plenty of standard items like apples and lettuce, shoppers can expand their plant-based horizons with hard-to-find root vegetables, Asian greens, fruits, and specialty items like bitter melon, fuzzy squash, and fresh bean sprouts. Don't forget the fresh lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and the carnival of fresh chilies.
Photo courtesy of Gelson's Markets
No. 4:
As Southern California's gourmet food market, Gelson's is noted for gorgeous fruits and vegetables. They buy fresh six days a week, work with local growers, and hand-select all of their produce, which includes several organic options.
Photo courtesy of Dan LaGuardia Media
No. 3:
Heinen's is a Midwestern chain that works with over 150 regional growers to bring ultra-fresh local produce to buyers. You'll find produce from Amish farms and 400 different kinds of fruits and vegetables.
Photo courtesy of The Fresh Market
No. 2:
Visit The Fresh Market to try some unique fruits and vegetables, like plumcots (a plum-apricot hybrid) or purple cauliflower. This grocery store lives up to its name by stocking a vast array of seasonal, local, and super-fresh produce that includes plenty of organics.
No. 1:
Hy-Vee is proud of their homegrown produce, working with hundreds of local farms in eight Midwestern states to source fruits and vegetables grown within 200 miles of each store. Super-fresh items are the norm here, and the prices can compete with any other grocer.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Amanda Mactas
Amanda Mactas is a freelance journalist based in... Read More
Amanda Mactas is a freelance journalist based in New York City. Her work has appeared in Time Out, Women's Health, Eat This Not That, Bella Magazine, and PureWow, among others. Her favorite pastime is eating and drinking her way around the world, and when she's not doing that, she's probably thinking or writing about doing just that. Besides being on the hunt for the best food offerings in any given city, she's often looking for a cozy independent bookstore, beautiful cemetery, or haunted locale to discover. You can follow her work and her travels on Instagram.
Amanda Mactas
Amanda Mactas is a freelance journalist based in New York City. Her work has appeared in Time Out, Women's Health, Eat This Not That, Bella Magazine, and PureWow, among others. Her favorite pastime is eating and drinking her way around the world, and when she's not doing that, she's probably thinking or writing about doing just that. Besides being on the hunt for the best food offerings in any given city, she's often looking for a cozy independent bookstore, beautiful cemetery, or haunted locale to discover. You can follow her work and her travels on Instagram.
Carole Terwilliger Meyers
Carole Terwilliger Meyers has written articles for... Read More
Carole Terwilliger Meyers has written articles for numerous outlets, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Via, and Orbitz. She has been a featured guest on the Today Show and quoted in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Her favorite and most frequent destinations are London, NYC, and Hawaii, but she favors destinations in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she lives and about which she writes frequently. Carole is a blogger--Travels with Carole; a website publisher--Berkeley and Beyond and Webcam Traveler; and an active freelance writer. You can follow Carole on YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Carole Terwilliger Meyers
Carole Terwilliger Meyers has written articles for numerous outlets, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Via, and Orbitz. She has been a featured guest on the Today Show and quoted in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Her favorite and most frequent destinations are London, NYC, and Hawaii, but she favors destinations in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she lives and about which she writes frequently. Carole is a blogger--Travels with Carole; a website publisher--Berkeley and Beyond and Webcam Traveler; and an active freelance writer. You can follow Carole on YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Jacky Runice
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a... Read More
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and relies on her vast experience and gray matter to produce informative, entertaining content.
Jacky Runice
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and relies on her vast experience and gray matter to produce informative, entertaining content.
Jamie Davis Smith
Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50... Read More
Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50 countries, many of them with her children in tow. She loves visiting everything from theme parks to ancient ruins and packs strictly carry-on-only. Jamie can be reached at [email protected].
Jamie Davis Smith
Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50 countries, many of them with her children in tow. She loves visiting everything from theme parks to ancient ruins and packs strictly carry-on-only. Jamie can be reached at [email protected].
Kristen Lummis
Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in... Read More
Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in Western Colorado. The mom of two now-adult sons, Lummis broke into her writing career through snowsports, founding the website braveskimom.com in 2010 to provide family-friendly tips across a full range of winter topics. And while skiing is Lummis’ first true outdoor love, she grew up camping, hiking, biking, kayaking and traveling extensively with her family — pursuits that she continues today. She prides herself on unbiased opinions, based on activities and destinations she’s visited and experienced. Lummis is honored to be considered an “expert” for 10Best. Follow her @braveskimom on Instagram and Facebook.
Kristen Lummis
Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in Western Colorado. The mom of two now-adult sons, Lummis broke into her writing career through snowsports, founding the website braveskimom.com in 2010 to provide family-friendly tips across a full range of winter topics. And while skiing is Lummis’ first true outdoor love, she grew up camping, hiking, biking, kayaking and traveling extensively with her family — pursuits that she continues today. She prides herself on unbiased opinions, based on activities and destinations she’s visited and experienced. Lummis is honored to be considered an “expert” for 10Best. Follow her @braveskimom on Instagram and Facebook.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland
Marlynn is a former broadcast news anchor/reporter... Read More
Marlynn is a former broadcast news anchor/reporter who has combined her love of writing and publishing with her passion for cooking, baking, wine, and travel. She is a cookbook author, recipe developer for food & beverage brands, and longtime food, wine, and travel writer. In 2004, she launched Urban Bliss Life, a leading food, wine, and travel website. She is a regular guest chef on the Portland, Oregon ABC affiliate'sAfternoonLive show, where she cooks different recipes live each month. She has also been featured as a recurring guest chef on The Drew Barrymore Show, as well as Season 3 of the Magnolia Network and Chef Andrew Zimmern's TV show Family Dinner. Her recipes have been featured in Oprah.com, Martha Stewart, Shape, Eating Well, Good Housekeeping, the Pioneer Woman, and more. Marlynn is also a certified wine pro, holding a WSET 2 with Distinction certification and currently is working on her Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) certification. You can connect with Marlynn and find her easy, comfort food recipes, wine pairings, and foodie travel tips on Urban Bliss Life as well as on Instagram, and you can find her cookbooks, The Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker Meal Prep Cookbook and The Super Easy Teen Baking Cookbook, in most major booksellers online and on her website.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland
Marlynn is a former broadcast news anchor/reporter who has combined her love of writing and publishing with her passion for cooking, baking, wine, and travel. She is a cookbook author, recipe developer for food & beverage brands, and longtime food, wine, and travel writer. In 2004, she launched Urban Bliss Life, a leading food, wine, and travel website. She is a regular guest chef on the Portland, Oregon ABC affiliate'sAfternoonLive show, where she cooks different recipes live each month. She has also been featured as a recurring guest chef on The Drew Barrymore Show, as well as Season 3 of the Magnolia Network and Chef Andrew Zimmern's TV show Family Dinner. Her recipes have been featured in Oprah.com, Martha Stewart, Shape, Eating Well, Good Housekeeping, the Pioneer Woman, and more. Marlynn is also a certified wine pro, holding a WSET 2 with Distinction certification and currently is working on her Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) certification. You can connect with Marlynn and find her easy, comfort food recipes, wine pairings, and foodie travel tips on Urban Bliss Life as well as on Instagram, and you can find her cookbooks, The Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker Meal Prep Cookbook and The Super Easy Teen Baking Cookbook, in most major booksellers online and on her website.
Nicky Omohundro
Nicky Omohundro is the founder and editor of Read More
Nicky Omohundro is the founder and editor of LittleFamilyAdventure.com, the popular family travel & lifestyle website that inspires families to leave no child left inside. Since 2013 LFA has been providing inspiration to get families outdoors, eat well, and travel everywhere from their own backyard to around the world. Always up for a family adventure, she has traveled to 37 states and 6 countries to zip-line through a Costa Rican rainforest, see Finland’s Northern Lights, and go camping throughout the US. Nicky is the co-founder of Tourism WorX a travel consultancy group. Connect with her Twitter and Instagram.
Nicky Omohundro
Nicky Omohundro is the founder and editor of LittleFamilyAdventure.com, the popular family travel & lifestyle website that inspires families to leave no child left inside. Since 2013 LFA has been providing inspiration to get families outdoors, eat well, and travel everywhere from their own backyard to around the world. Always up for a family adventure, she has traveled to 37 states and 6 countries to zip-line through a Costa Rican rainforest, see Finland’s Northern Lights, and go camping throughout the US. Nicky is the co-founder of Tourism WorX a travel consultancy group. Connect with her Twitter and Instagram.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
