I know how you feel. I am so frustrated with the cost of fresh fruit and veg, and frozen fruit (and nuts and most other food). I do okay with cartons and cans and frozen. But I'm sensitive to fresh fruit and veg
Most fruit and veg have absorbed pesticides, except some of the thicker skinned ones like oranges, and if they are grown organically.
Not that I can spare the time or energy growing and preparing food, but this is important. My solutions I am working toward are:
1. Growing my own so they are chemical free. Also, a lot of commercial fruit is picked way, way before it's ripe and sits around for weeks. I don't think they have the same nutrients. I am not sure. Sprouting seems to be the easiest to grow and fast and sprouts are one of the healthiest. There are many types of sprouts to grow.
2. Organic juice. Somewhat expensive but I think you get more for your money, especially when they are using better juices, like pomegranate or cherry instead of grape juice. Some of them are not that expensive, around the same cost as canned brand name sodas.
3. Dried fruit. Also expensive but you aren't paying for the water weight, so I think they are easier to eat more vitamins faster, and convenient. I am not sure I can afford organic dried fruit. I have been eating normal dried fruit. Without preservatives if you are sensitive. Also dried in roll form (fruit rollups).
4. Jam and jelly and preserves can be good.
5. What was mentioned above, buying fresh from local farmers. I believe co-ops give you a discount at the farmers' markets. Many times I've also heard of "box" deals. Where you don't get to choose what's in there but they give a variety and the price is great, maybe half of what the farmer normally charges for what's inside.
6. I want to stock up when a particular fruit is in season and make my own dried fruit, jam, frozen, jar fruit.
7. Bulk frozen from warehouse club or if there's a super good sale at Trader Joe's or Whole Foods.
8. Some of the thick skinned ones I will eat non-organic fresh.
9. Powders and pills. They have the pills that equal drinking red wine. Very healthy. And the powders with lots of fruits and vegetables mixed in.
Some fruit comes in jars instead of cans. Or it comes in those little plastic individual cups, but those get expensive. If you don't NEED them to be small portions then it could be a waste, but you may find them an okay deal with generic brands, when on sale, or with coupons. However the inner lid lining could be a problem or those plastic cups?
I'm like the other poster who said yes I smell the cans, but I can still eat it. I want to stop eating canned food because of the BPA in the linings. Apparently only certain expensive brands have BPA-free cans. Trader Joe's has no BPA in some but it has BPA in others. Unfortunately giving up cans is hard. They are so convenient with a variety of foods in them.
Frozen I can also usually eat, but I read that freezing destroys a large percentage of the good vitamins. Still, I am in favor of frozen if I can't have fresh.