Large Family Produce Storage

[beaners]

I feel like I've really mastered the art of large family shopping. Great meat prices at the restaurant supply store, certain items from Aldi, toilet paper and diapers at Sams, bread from the bakery outlet. Great prices on cases of apples and sweet potatoes and bananas at certain stores too! But I struggle to store the cases of produce. We go through a case in a week, more or less depending on what it is. Where or how do other large families store these foods? We have a small pantry space but it's better suited for canned goods than fresh foods. I thought about adding a storage rack in our breakfast nook but I think a stack of produce boxes gives off that "crazy family with a bus" vibe. Especially since you can see our bus out that window!

[happi duck]

I vote to embrace "crazy family"!

 

Seriously though if you have the room for a rack it would probably be good for air circulation and defeating " out of sight out of mind".

 

You could keep an eye out for old wooden crates or something else cool looking if you wanted it to look a little more designed.

[myfunnybunch]

Do you use the bus for daily transportation? If not, can you store it on the bus?

 

I'm guessing you don't have a garage or basement. That's where we store our produce. Laundry room?

 

Maybe some of those plastic stacking bins would work. Something kind of like this (but cheaper, so you're not spending all the $$ you've saved! :D ).

http://www.containerstore.com/s/storage/stacking-storage/white-stacking-recycling-bin/12d?productId=10000537

 

Then again, you've already got the bus, so the "crazy family with a bus" vibe....in for a penny, in for a pound.

[bolt.]

I like crazy bus families that eat plent of produce much better than crazy bus families who don't. I say go with a rack, and pretty it up as opportunities present themselves.

[knoxinsox]

Are the cases of produce stuff that can be kept at room temp or do they need a cold room?  

 

I don't know how many cases you need space for, but something like this is cute, and you could build it and place it where ever you wanted since the back is solid.  I've seen these with 6 or more cubbies before.  I'd love one like this, I would stain it and put it in the corner of my dining room.  :-)   Our family is smaller, but so far I've been getting out all my pretty bowls, baskets and containers to store the produce in.  I have a metal kitchen island with 2 shelves from Sam's Club, and they look nice on the shelves.  Not ideal, but its a working kitchen.

 

 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/40250990396442500/

[beaners]

I love how the consensus is to let the crazy loose! These are mostly things that are okay at room temp, at least for the week before they are consumed. Storing on the bus during the summer would provide us with precooked fruits and vegetables. ;) The basement and garage are both a little too accessible to mice or bugs with the way this house is designed. Laundry room is attached to the pantry where the canned goods are, but no space for produce.

 

I like the different cubbies and shelves. Washable would definitely be key because every now and then they need a wiping out.

[umsami]

I think at Costco or Sam's I saw this bins designed to stack and hold potatoes and onions.  I would try some of those....and maybe put a bookcase in the kitchen if you don't have enough storage space.  Big natural baskets might work as well, but not as washable.

[zoobie]

Container Store forever! I really like their Metro shelving and Elfa storage. There are drawers and wire bins and lots of lovelies. I wouldn't store in the cardboard crates because bugs looooove those.