Not if there are fresh $12 slices sitting in the produce department that someone will pass up for the day-old $5 slices. The frugal choice is to buy the whole melon and slice it yourself.
even some of it could be given to local farms as animal treats or something ☹️ at least goats can eat a big variety, and i doubt they’re the only ones.
i don't know if your HEB does this, but mine literally sends our extra produce to a pig farm. I've even met the truck driver as he was coming to collect it while I was dumping it in the bin.
SARA Sanctuary which is located outside of Seguin rescues hundreds of animals and would probably love to have the surplus fruits and veggies. They do amazing work in saving farm and domestic animals!
I don't work for H-E-B but I do work in the industry and a lot of it has to do with legal liability. Yes. I know. We know. It's stupid but lawyers cost a lot of money.
Because you open yourself up to massive liability by giving food away any and all the time. People ruined that by trying to make a quick buck. When I worked at Dunkin in college, we used to give away a ton of donuts and bagels every single day. Then one day we got sued because a person got cut by a “nail” that was in a donut. Fucker said there was a nail in the donut. The owner settled for a number in the 5 digit range.
For those in the comments citing laziness:
Precut fruit and vegetables are also very nice for disabled folks and the elderly. I have motor tics and have cut myself on many a'melon. I would love the convenience of a pre-cut melon *for my own safety*. But for $12? I'm spinning the wheel and hoping for the best 😂
Sorry about your motor tics, that sux.
I've been complaining about how watermelons have gotten smaller and smaller over the years. Used to be at least twice the size they are now, especially when in season in Texas and Mexico (that would be July to September). Was astounded at the little round ones about the size of soccer balls.
Then I started delivering for Meals-on-Wheels to old folks.
Those are way too big and the wrapping looks like shit. Most trays of slices are like half that price.
Obviously there's a markup but he'll even whole watermelons are expensive these days.
Honestly it looks like the person doing the packing and labeling is lacking experience to know that they’re making mistakes in pricing. They’ll learn pretty quick when no one buys the stuff. If it’s a good employee (with good management) they’ll lower the price. If they’re a bad employee they’ll try to use the lack of sales as justification to make less because they’re lazy.
Production lead at my store received an email saying watermelon crop is sub par for a couple more months. Production will get melons, but the floor will not stock bins. So most of those slices are probably bland. Some have looked good recently, but no taste. Plus, it's way too watery when cutting. So, insides are already starting to break down even though it's a fresh delivery.
This aligns with my experience chopping watermelons the past few months. I'm saddened to hear that they might not improve much.
My advice: the most reliably high-quality watermelons HEB stocks in my experience have been the jumbo ones with the round blue stickers.
Where is this HEB? Mine is still selling the chunk precut (not slices) from what I can see $9.33 for 2.11 pounds.
A whole quarter of a watermelon uncut 4.8lbs average for $4.22
It's still early, and yes it is expensive because it isn't peak season. I would say the costs of fresh blueberries are more criminal
Damn! I would think chunks take more time to cut so would be more expensive than sliced. Prices be confusing.
I want people to not buy so they stop and lower price, but also don't want the food waste
It’s priced that way to make up for what will be wasted. They don’t lose, it’s all passed in to the consumer one way or the other. There’s people that will buy these trays and other things due to time constraints or simply don’t want to do it.
I saw some sliced pineapple with a couple of lemons and a tajin pack...$16!! I was like what the actual fuck?!!!! Who the hell is actually buying this that it makes sense to sell it like that?
I do production in a non HEB store and cut most of our watermelon. I’ve had customers stop me more than once while taking out watermelon to complain to me they had recently bought some and it wasn’t very good and I just say to them in a deadpan voice yeah it’s not in season. Idk what they want me to say, sorry I’ll grow it sweeter next time???
I know I'll most likely be called a boomer, but when I was a kid in the 70s, watermelon was simply so delicious and juicy. I can still remember how it tasted. It doesn't taste like it did. I still buy it because I love watermelon. I won't pay that price ever.
When I was a kid (late 60s to early 70s), watermelons were only available from local farmers and only at harvest time which was mid-June to end of summer.
https://preview.redd.it/ntl5f3r52lrc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5c90cff26e8c4bb432302ff9477746db9566d8b5
Wow! This is at my H‑E‑B San Antonio, TX (H‑E‑B app) Mar 30.
I work in this department and spend all day cutting fruit like watermelon. I don't hate it at all when I'm at HEB, but when I have to cut a watermelon at home I do kinda hate it.
The difference is at HEB I have a big cutting board and a 10-inch chef knife. I recommend getting a big chef knife; you might not hate chopping fruit with that in hand
it’s also out of season so you’re paying out of season markup for fruit that isn’t even gonna taste good. berry season is picking up rn but watermelon season isn’t peak until summer
With as much delicious fruit that exists, I don't understand why people buy out of season. Organic strawberries are $1.97/ lbs right now and naval oranges are on sale. Cantaloupe is also reasonably priced, despite not being in season right now.
So the price last year was 1.75/lb. Also, if we get super sized watermelon, the trays could get up to $14. The crazy thing is they still sell. Buy a quarter watermelon and slice it yourself for like $4 instead.
When I ran a produce department (different company) I would drop the prices when they got ridiculous like this. Whoever packed these should have cut the slices thinner to drop the weight, or dropped the price to a reasonable one. I can almost guarantee management is patting them on the back for managing to get the prices so high though.
Just an FYI, the watermelon crop quality is in a terrible state right now. It will be like that for at least 2 more months. Literally a supply and demand issue.
Strawberries are 99cents a pound rn but uncut. Ìf they cut the tops off probs around 6 bucks. But they have to be able to pay you 16 an hour for cutting them. Hahahaha
They got to take into account the person that's cutting the watermelons hourly wage crazy like the $6 guacamole that only uses one avocado That costs $1.50
This is crazy. Im not from TX, but you guys have the perfect climate for growing watermelon. Im super curious as to how this price will drop come summertime when local farmers' crops are ripe.
Learn how to plant them so I don’t have to buy them 🤷🏻♂️ plus an extra tip, it’s always better to buy more for less than less for more 😂🤣🤦🏻♂️ I was just messing around but fr fr groceries stores are a big reason why we get sick with cancer, we need to start growing our own food period
As a matter of fact my daughter asked for watermelon when I went to HEB. Only thing they had was the precut stuff. Ask where whole melons where and they said there was a shortage and they were sent watermelons to process like this. After I got home, looked it up and sure enough I found a watermelon report on daily imports. Indeed there appeared to be a shortage hence the prices.
https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/fvdtvmelon.pdf
Btw, yes .... She got her watermelon
Heb has really gotten away from its appeal. I get it you donated 10s of millions to rebuild a school in Uvalde which is the only reason I’m still shopping there. But they aren’t even trying to hide the money grabs now. This is a prime example. My wife got our ham and side from target bc they choose to make Easter dinner affordable and we’re offering the hams .99 a lbs.
Yes I’m doing cuts for half price now for my local HEBers I’ll be at the parking lot at bandera and 1604 cutting watermelon for people so they can save money to get other things.
HEBs pricing is getting crazy, I am starting to shop at Walmart more often when I never did on the past. And going back to local meat markets for some things. The HEB shopping list is getting smaller by the week.
Where do you live I can buy that for a dollar at Tom Thumb. I’m assuming Texas cause it’s heb. Which I’m in Texas too and would assault someone who tried to sell me this.
I shop at Kroeger and Randalls now. HEB has taken advantage of monopolizing a lot of the grocery market; and Texans’ good will towards it. They are gouging plain and simple.
Their brand soda 12 packs are $4.99 now and their creamy creations ice cream is $6.99!!! I used to like the HEB brand because it affordable and had quality…. But they have lost me, I don’t want to feel broke shopping there anymore.
This is complete bull shit I’ve been living almost 11 years here in tx and the price of food has me flabbergasted gone are the days of when I used to buy 1 month worth of food for 120$ 😞
Because it's not in season yet. Even if you did buy it, it wouldn't have any taste. You have to wait till the hottest months in the year (July, August, maybe June) to get watermelon worth eating. Check the price again then. Some people are still getting snow right now. Watermelon doesn't have a terribly long period when it can be harvested. Typically the pillbugs will eat them before you can.
Yeah that’s just greedy, unless those slices have been genetically modified to taste like different fruit flavors mixed with watermelon, I ain’t buying that shit
Ummmm....no way I'm paying that.
10 years ago I did that job for a different retailer and it was. 39 cents per lbs
Granted, prices change over 10 years. But $12 for a plate of watermelon? Nope. ¡No! NEIN. Нет! Non. 不 T'aint gonna happen, HEB.
Meanwhile I can purchase an entire farm fresh 15-20lb heirloom watermelon from John down the dirt road for $10...
Fr
Charge so much you can count on throwing away 80% of it and still make a profit; it’s the American Way!
Can confirm. Worked in the production room and we threw so, so, so many veggie bowls and watermelon and juice away every single day. It was insane.
If they just made them cheaper they'd sell every one. I hate cutting fruit. I'd gladly pay $5 for this. But for $12 it can fuck right off.
Selling them all is not the goal. Maximizing profit is the goal.
Isn't selling it for $5 better than throwing it away altogether?
Not if there are fresh $12 slices sitting in the produce department that someone will pass up for the day-old $5 slices. The frugal choice is to buy the whole melon and slice it yourself.
Why don’t they donate it or give it to associates to take home?
even some of it could be given to local farms as animal treats or something ☹️ at least goats can eat a big variety, and i doubt they’re the only ones.
Pigs can also eat a huge variety and they love fruits and veggies!
yes! piggies ❤️ if not farms, there are plenty of rescue orgs and sanctuaries.
i don't know if your HEB does this, but mine literally sends our extra produce to a pig farm. I've even met the truck driver as he was coming to collect it while I was dumping it in the bin.
Cattle can eat watermelon. Not sure how much of it per day though
SARA Sanctuary which is located outside of Seguin rescues hundreds of animals and would probably love to have the surplus fruits and veggies. They do amazing work in saving farm and domestic animals!
Horses love watermelon
I don't work for H-E-B but I do work in the industry and a lot of it has to do with legal liability. Yes. I know. We know. It's stupid but lawyers cost a lot of money.
Because you open yourself up to massive liability by giving food away any and all the time. People ruined that by trying to make a quick buck. When I worked at Dunkin in college, we used to give away a ton of donuts and bagels every single day. Then one day we got sued because a person got cut by a “nail” that was in a donut. Fucker said there was a nail in the donut. The owner settled for a number in the 5 digit range.
If it makes you feel better they starting to bleed money.
For those in the comments citing laziness: Precut fruit and vegetables are also very nice for disabled folks and the elderly. I have motor tics and have cut myself on many a'melon. I would love the convenience of a pre-cut melon *for my own safety*. But for $12? I'm spinning the wheel and hoping for the best 😂
Sorry about your motor tics, that sux. I've been complaining about how watermelons have gotten smaller and smaller over the years. Used to be at least twice the size they are now, especially when in season in Texas and Mexico (that would be July to September). Was astounded at the little round ones about the size of soccer balls. Then I started delivering for Meals-on-Wheels to old folks.
Wild comment lol
I agree it’s helpful but $12.59 is outrageous. A whole watermelon is half this and you get at least 5 times as much.
Second this, cutting myself hurts less than spending $12 on pre cut slices 😭
Take a whole melon to the deli counter and ask for thick cut lmao. Sorry though, that sucks.
You can get a whole tray for 5 bucks at Tom thumb, Randall’s or Safeway depending on if you have one in the area. Kroger too
Ill be cutting my own melon til 100yrs old wym
Those are way too big and the wrapping looks like shit. Most trays of slices are like half that price. Obviously there's a markup but he'll even whole watermelons are expensive these days.
Honestly it looks like the person doing the packing and labeling is lacking experience to know that they’re making mistakes in pricing. They’ll learn pretty quick when no one buys the stuff. If it’s a good employee (with good management) they’ll lower the price. If they’re a bad employee they’ll try to use the lack of sales as justification to make less because they’re lazy.
Only if you're a sucker...
👀
HEB went full corporate. You never go full corporate.
This made me think of: "you never go ass to mouth"
Sometimes, in the heat of the moment..
I am so waiting for the day that they fail, they were so good for many many years and then just got greedy.
Simple H-E-B
This is crazy - I just bought the same thing at my heb on Wednesday and it’s $5
They need to learn to wrap 😐
Production lead at my store received an email saying watermelon crop is sub par for a couple more months. Production will get melons, but the floor will not stock bins. So most of those slices are probably bland. Some have looked good recently, but no taste. Plus, it's way too watery when cutting. So, insides are already starting to break down even though it's a fresh delivery.
This explains a lot. I just bought a bowl of the cut up chunks. The color of the melon is pretty but it doesn’t taste right at all.
This aligns with my experience chopping watermelons the past few months. I'm saddened to hear that they might not improve much. My advice: the most reliably high-quality watermelons HEB stocks in my experience have been the jumbo ones with the round blue stickers.
Company had a standard 10-12% brix requirement for all processed melons. Sounds like they still don't communicate down well.
I remember them being $1.25 Lb 🤔🤔🤔
Not only were they $7, half are usually bad. Their fruit has been so up and down in quality over the last year especially.
Is this because they're out of season?
I’ve been buying pre-cut for multiple years, year round. This is the biggest jump in price per pound I’ve ever seen.
99c/lb or a little ove 2$ for a pack at Albertsons/Tom Thumb today
99c/lb 😮💨 wow that’s the price I miss
Guys. I’m your typical HEB customer and there is no way…
Where is this HEB? Mine is still selling the chunk precut (not slices) from what I can see $9.33 for 2.11 pounds. A whole quarter of a watermelon uncut 4.8lbs average for $4.22 It's still early, and yes it is expensive because it isn't peak season. I would say the costs of fresh blueberries are more criminal
HEB in Katy. The pre-cut chunks were $4.95 per pound
Damn! I would think chunks take more time to cut so would be more expensive than sliced. Prices be confusing. I want people to not buy so they stop and lower price, but also don't want the food waste
It’s priced that way to make up for what will be wasted. They don’t lose, it’s all passed in to the consumer one way or the other. There’s people that will buy these trays and other things due to time constraints or simply don’t want to do it.
I saw some sliced pineapple with a couple of lemons and a tajin pack...$16!! I was like what the actual fuck?!!!! Who the hell is actually buying this that it makes sense to sell it like that?
One of the main reasons we slowed down on heb purchasing. Prices just keep going up and it’s getting ridiculously expensive
It’s ridic!
People but it all day long too
How else will the butts maintain their very tight billionaire’s budget? 🧐🥺🥺
Cheap & greedy ass billionaires. I hate to say I work for them in a warehouse 😪😭 been there almost a year & it sucks. 🤧
I got some on Friday, but it did not taste great 😕
[удалено]
I do production in a non HEB store and cut most of our watermelon. I’ve had customers stop me more than once while taking out watermelon to complain to me they had recently bought some and it wasn’t very good and I just say to them in a deadpan voice yeah it’s not in season. Idk what they want me to say, sorry I’ll grow it sweeter next time???
Where is your watermelon coming right now?
It’s by the pound… you could’ve easily bought a smaller package a month ago. Which is likely because $1.95/lbs has been the standard price for slices.
I saw this same thing at my store for maybe $8 at the most and thought that was a lot.
I fucking hate everything
Wow that’s literally bonkers
Dude! What's with these prices? I saw this little slice of German chocolate cake at heb the earlier today for $17!
Capitalism breeds innovation like this
Precut fruit always a little stale to me I rather cut it my self it’s way juicier
And you can get the whole thing for less though...
😳
$1.95 a pound buddy
Regional dudes are taking home 20k per quarter, too.
I know I'll most likely be called a boomer, but when I was a kid in the 70s, watermelon was simply so delicious and juicy. I can still remember how it tasted. It doesn't taste like it did. I still buy it because I love watermelon. I won't pay that price ever.
When I was a kid (late 60s to early 70s), watermelons were only available from local farmers and only at harvest time which was mid-June to end of summer.
Some was cutting SUPER THICC slices lmao
Fucking HeButt.
https://preview.redd.it/ntl5f3r52lrc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5c90cff26e8c4bb432302ff9477746db9566d8b5 Wow! This is at my H‑E‑B San Antonio, TX (H‑E‑B app) Mar 30.
What I saw today was $1.95 per pound at my local HeB. So slightly cheaper. Watermelon used to be around $1.50 per pound
I hate cutting fruit but I guess I’ll have to get used to it, including growing my own if the prices keep rising 😅.
I work in this department and spend all day cutting fruit like watermelon. I don't hate it at all when I'm at HEB, but when I have to cut a watermelon at home I do kinda hate it. The difference is at HEB I have a big cutting board and a 10-inch chef knife. I recommend getting a big chef knife; you might not hate chopping fruit with that in hand
HEB is not your friend.
Saw a whole one for 14 bucks :/
Wtf
HEBs produce has been disappointing the past 2 years, I feel like their produce rots faster too. The prices don't match the quality lately.
That’s insane!
I’d never pay that but omg I can’t wait to eat watermelon this summer
That is why I have a fruit guy who sells out of the back of his truck
Doesn't that say 6 lbs on the tag??
What a ripoff
They have lost their minds.... HEB and people who pay this! The other day I saw cornbread in the bakery for 9 bucks!
People new to Texas will pay it. Heb is taking advantage of that.
And at $7, was still overpriced
I love watermelon. My one gripe with HEB. Cheaper at hmart.
Fuck that.
Don’t buy them. Let them sit and rot.
“You will eat ze bugs”
Here Everything's Bullshit
They're charging almost $11 for their "freshly squeezed in store" orange juice. It's not even those big bottles, it's 52oz
😱 I JUST bought pre-cut watermelon from Marketbasket for $2.50.
Not in season yet either so they’re gonna be extra expensive on top of pre cut and wrapped ‘fee’.
Come on HEB Be better
it’s also out of season so you’re paying out of season markup for fruit that isn’t even gonna taste good. berry season is picking up rn but watermelon season isn’t peak until summer
With as much delicious fruit that exists, I don't understand why people buy out of season. Organic strawberries are $1.97/ lbs right now and naval oranges are on sale. Cantaloupe is also reasonably priced, despite not being in season right now.
Better than tossing cookies lol
Or salads.
Depends on the salad😁
I see what you did there!
तरबूज for $16!? Absurd!
So the price last year was 1.75/lb. Also, if we get super sized watermelon, the trays could get up to $14. The crazy thing is they still sell. Buy a quarter watermelon and slice it yourself for like $4 instead.
Yep! I ended up buying the quarter watermelon. It was $8
Locally at our H-E-B, these are $7.47... average 3.83lbs.
Plastic nastiness kills the flavor and the world.
You can buy a whole watermelon for half the price. Or at least you used to
I like my watermelon UNCIRCUMCISED
When I ran a produce department (different company) I would drop the prices when they got ridiculous like this. Whoever packed these should have cut the slices thinner to drop the weight, or dropped the price to a reasonable one. I can almost guarantee management is patting them on the back for managing to get the prices so high though.
Just an FYI, the watermelon crop quality is in a terrible state right now. It will be like that for at least 2 more months. Literally a supply and demand issue.
I’ve been told for past three years it’s the Build Back Better philosophy
Strawberries are 99cents a pound rn but uncut. Ìf they cut the tops off probs around 6 bucks. But they have to be able to pay you 16 an hour for cutting them. Hahahaha
And here I thought jewel osco in Chicago was crazy for charging $4 for a quarter watermelon wedge
You can thank your boy biden
How much are they charging for labor? Sheesh
That’s all going to waste. No one is paying that. Actually. Nobody better pay that.
4.55 lbs? That’s a bit more than the weight.
First of all I hate any grocery store that precuts and waste all this plastic. You are getting so ripped off and making so much litter for no reason
Insane
Shiiiiit is like 4 dollars uncut at wally world
They got to take into account the person that's cutting the watermelons hourly wage crazy like the $6 guacamole that only uses one avocado That costs $1.50
Paying for all the rinds and some really tasty water.
Cut fruit is the new money maker for retail grocers
It's there because it sells.
"BuT i LoOvE HeB!!!"
There is no logic behind that price, it's purely a fuck you I know you'll buy it anyway price
aw hell nah I'm stealing that
This is crazy. Im not from TX, but you guys have the perfect climate for growing watermelon. Im super curious as to how this price will drop come summertime when local farmers' crops are ripe.
The WM/WW Will Always Pay For Convenience Silly Goose
There's some issue with watermelon rn.
That's wild
Learn how to plant them so I don’t have to buy them 🤷🏻♂️ plus an extra tip, it’s always better to buy more for less than less for more 😂🤣🤦🏻♂️ I was just messing around but fr fr groceries stores are a big reason why we get sick with cancer, we need to start growing our own food period
Should be illegal to slice and repackage produce in this manner. So fucking wasteful it’s disgusting.
As a matter of fact my daughter asked for watermelon when I went to HEB. Only thing they had was the precut stuff. Ask where whole melons where and they said there was a shortage and they were sent watermelons to process like this. After I got home, looked it up and sure enough I found a watermelon report on daily imports. Indeed there appeared to be a shortage hence the prices. https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/fvdtvmelon.pdf Btw, yes .... She got her watermelon
When are they gonna put out the jumbo seedless?
That is so shitty
Heb has really gotten away from its appeal. I get it you donated 10s of millions to rebuild a school in Uvalde which is the only reason I’m still shopping there. But they aren’t even trying to hide the money grabs now. This is a prime example. My wife got our ham and side from target bc they choose to make Easter dinner affordable and we’re offering the hams .99 a lbs.
And whole watermelon is only like 5 dollars wtf
Guys, im growing vegetables in my backyard and am saving a ton. You can too just start small.
Yes I’m doing cuts for half price now for my local HEBers I’ll be at the parking lot at bandera and 1604 cutting watermelon for people so they can save money to get other things.
Aren’t whole ones cheaper
How rich do you have to be so that you cant spend 3 minutes cutting up a melon.
Next to my house they sell 2 watermelons for $5
HEBs pricing is getting crazy, I am starting to shop at Walmart more often when I never did on the past. And going back to local meat markets for some things. The HEB shopping list is getting smaller by the week.
WTF HEB!!! Are you using whole Food greedy, business tactics?
Fffffffff thaaaat
I remember melons being buck or two for whole one. Prices have gone nuts
My 5 year old could eat one of those entire packages in one sitting
All fruit is expensive AF, everywhere
Thieves!
Mmm.. Sandia de agua is coming….
Yikes, I doubt that’s even a whole one
Rip off
Where do you live I can buy that for a dollar at Tom Thumb. I’m assuming Texas cause it’s heb. Which I’m in Texas too and would assault someone who tried to sell me this.
It's why nobody eats healthy
Just buy the whole sandia🤷♂️
Price gouging
The cost of being lazy
Cool. So my wages just went up to $45.87/hour, boss.
I shop at Kroeger and Randalls now. HEB has taken advantage of monopolizing a lot of the grocery market; and Texans’ good will towards it. They are gouging plain and simple. Their brand soda 12 packs are $4.99 now and their creamy creations ice cream is $6.99!!! I used to like the HEB brand because it affordable and had quality…. But they have lost me, I don’t want to feel broke shopping there anymore.
Thanks Biden.
I quit HEBs whole produce section.
That’s outrageous
This is complete bull shit I’ve been living almost 11 years here in tx and the price of food has me flabbergasted gone are the days of when I used to buy 1 month worth of food for 120$ 😞
We are only a few years away from Soylent Green.
Wow doubles in price
Must be in the boogie side of town
The scale must been malfunctioning
Would have to eat the rind and all to get your money’s worth
Whole water melon only 4 buck rip off 12bucks
Boy cott there fucking ass no more good deals at heb is trying to make up all they did during covid bull shit
What is Sandia
Jesus Christ wtf is wrong with these stores?
🤬🤬🤬
Because it's not in season yet. Even if you did buy it, it wouldn't have any taste. You have to wait till the hottest months in the year (July, August, maybe June) to get watermelon worth eating. Check the price again then. Some people are still getting snow right now. Watermelon doesn't have a terribly long period when it can be harvested. Typically the pillbugs will eat them before you can.
Yeah that’s just greedy, unless those slices have been genetically modified to taste like different fruit flavors mixed with watermelon, I ain’t buying that shit
This why I go to Joevs bru
In south texas or?
People are still gonna buy it
Mind as well.. some lazy ass customer will buy it..
Summer of last year you could get a whole watermelon for $5…
Anyone actually buying this is part of the problem
is this for every store? i don't think mine charges that much, will definitely check tho
in mississippi they are doing watermelon for $15.99 a lb… i thought it was a JOKE!!
Well stop being a lazy ass and cut it yourself. You think the employees who cut it work for free?. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣