Our first prep challenge in September is to buy food storage fruits, nuts, and seeds. September is a good month to shop for these foods because of back-to-school sales as well as Utah grocery case lot sales. We all prefer fresh fruit, but it’s best to be prepared for emergencies by buying, or canning your own fruit. Storing a variety of fruits, nuts, and seeds will add more nutrition to your diet too.
1. Buy Short-Term Food Storage Fruits, Nuts, and Seeds
Your first goal is to gather a 3-month supply of fruits, nuts, and seeds. These typically have a shorter shelf-life since they may require refrigeration after opening.
Fruit
- Fruit ideas include canned peaches, pears, pineapple, mandarin oranges, applesauce, raisins, cranberries, dried apricots, dried mangoes, and coconut.
- Most canned fruits have an 18-24 month best quality shelf-life. Dried apricots, prunes and raisins have a 6–12-month pantry shelf-life. According to StillTasty.com, if you live in a hot, humid climate, you should store dried fruits in the refrigerator.
- Shop at Utah case lot sales for canned fruit in September, March and April. Walmart always has great buys on canned foods.
Nuts, Nut Butters, and Seeds
- Gather a variety of foods based on family needs. Ideas: almond and peanut butter, almonds, walnuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, and sunflower seeds.
- Keep nuts in your refrigerator or freezer. Costco and Sam’s Club have great prices for nuts and seeds.
- Store opened peanut butter in the pantry for 3 months, then refrigerate after this time. Organic almond butter should be refrigerated as well. Check the label to be sure.
2. Buy Long-Term Food Storage Fruits
- Dehydrated or freeze-dried long-term fruit typically has a 20 to 30-year shelf life. Some options are apples, blueberries, banana chips and strawberries. Decide how much you want to store and never feel pressured to buy large quantities.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sells a 1 lb. can of dehydrated Apple Slices at Home Storage Centers for $9.58 (2022) and a box of 6 cans online for $62.45 USD. They have a 30-year shelf-life if stored properly. A year’s supply of apple slices per person is 8 Latter-day Saint cans.
- Re-hydrate apple slices with an equal amount of water. If you snack on dried apple slices, drink extra water. I use these apple slices in my oatmeal.
Good luck finding a variety of fruits, nuts, and seeds to buy for your family.
Best wishes and stay healthy.
Valerie Albrechtsen
The Food Storage Organizer
Purchase my food storage and emergency preparedness items in my Etsy shop.
