When it comes to buying groceries, higher prices doesn’t always mean higher quality.
A new study from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas found that produce found in dollar-discount stores is just as good as that found in traditional supermarkets and chain grocery stores.
Researchers compared the color, freshness, cleanliness and firmness of vegetables and fruits in 14 discount stores and 40 traditional markets in Las Vegas.
Overall, the study saw that there was “no significant” difference in quality between the two types of stores.
“The dollar store fruits may be ripe, and you’ll have to eat it soon, but it’s completely good quality,” Courtney Coughenour, a professor of health sciences at UNLV, wrote in a press release.
That’s good news for people who are looking to cut down on their grocery bill. The study also found that 84 percent of the produce and 89.5 percent of non-produce items in discount stores are “significantly less expensive” at dollar stores than traditional grocery stores. Meanwhile, the few items that were pricier at dollar stores were white and whole-wheat bread.
“We are conditioned to believe that cheap, quality produce is too good to be true. If the quality is good, and it’s cheap, why not take advantage of the lower price?” Coughenour said.