Our first prep challenge in September is to buy fruits, nuts, and seeds for food storage. 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 variety to your diet too.
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 and 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 fridge.
- Shop at a Utah case lot sale for canned fruit in September, March and April. Walmart always has great buys on canned foods too.
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 about 3 months, then refrigerate. Organic almond butter should be refrigerated. Check the label to be sure.
Buy Long-Term Food Storage Fruits
If you have space and finances, store long-term food storage fruit.
- Dehydrated or freeze-dried long-term fruits such as blueberries, banana chips and strawberries typically have a 20 to 30-year shelf life. 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 $10.14 (2023) and online in a a box of 6 cans for $60.84 USD. They have a 30-year shelf-life when stored properly. A year’s supply of apple slices per adult 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 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.
