Introducing.... the Sacolão!
The premise behind the sacolão is this - they work directly with farmers, and sell fruit and vegetables from them without any middle man. The produce is usually really fresh (sometimes dirt-still-attached fresh!) and seasonal. Most of the store is set up with the same price - so you don't have to worry about what price potatoes are this week!
My local sacolão charges R$1.48 per kilo. A bundle of greens (for example, lettuce, basil, kale, spinach leaves - they have a huge variety) is R$1.20 each. They also have a section with fruits and vegetables from further away which are priced differently. They also sell spices, tea, and natural products (think granola, quinoa, linseed, nuts etc). I can leave there with bags full of wonderful, fresh goodies to last more than a week and have change from R$20!
For me, the price isn't the best thing about it though. The best part is that everything is FRESH. And TASTY. These tomatoes are delicious - they actually have flavour!
Being able to buy such great fruit and veges at an affordable price is a great incentive to eat healthier - another reason why the sacolão is one of my favourite things!
