BARGAINS : LOW FOOD PRICES GROW ABUNDANTLY HERE.

Byline: Trisha King & Deborah Newmark

If you don't mind bumping carts or waiting your turn to get to the turnips, the everyday low prices at Valley Produce & Deli Inc. will astound you.

For example, 10 cents will buy you one bunch of scallions, cilantro, parsley or radishes (25 to 50 cents retail). Brown onions that sell in most stores for about 50 cents a pound are 15 cents a pound here. In fact, super popular Valley Produce & Deli sells 5,000 pounds of brown onions daily!

With the exception of the day before a holiday weekend, we have never encountered such a busy market or heard so many different languages in one place. We interviewed customers loading up their groceries in the parking lot, and the unanimous reason for shopping here was price and selection.

There were 12 kinds of apples (galas were 49 cents a pound instead of $1.49), over 300 spices (pay $3.89 for 2.5 ounces of ground cumin retail or $1.29 for 7 ounces here), and eggplant was 49 cents to 99 cents a pound (Japanese eggplant was 59 cents to $1.99 at a supermarket).

Other super buys include asparagus for $1.19 a pound ($1.99 on sale, $2.99 regular retail), yellow bell peppers run $1.33 a pound ($2.49 retail), cauliflower was 39 cents a pound ($1.29 retail), iceberg lettuce was 29 cents (99 cents retail) and white rose potatoes were 29 cents a pound for large ones and 19 cents a pound for small ones (all sizes 79 cents a pound at the supermarket).

Red, black and green grapes were 69 to 89 cents per pound instead of $1.99 at the supermarket, tomatillos were 59 cents a pound ($1.09 retail), pineapples were $1.19 each (79 cents a pound retail, average weight 3 to 4 pounds).

It's unfortunate we don't have more space to tell you about the deli and meat counters, bakery items (4,000 loaves of bread are sold daily), bins of dried goods such as fava beans and rice and fresh flowers (Casablancas are an unbelievable $2.50 a stem).

We highly recommend that you go to Valley Produce & Deli and see the bargains for yourself. Valley Produce & Deli Inc. is located at 18345 Vanowen St. (one block east of Reseda Boulevard), Reseda; [phone]. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. No credit cards; cash or checks only (personal checks only, no business checks accepted). Parking in front and back.

Inside info

Instead of buying new patio furniture, why not get it refinished at Universal Furniture Co. Since 1939, they've been refinishing metal patio furniture and saving people money by making old furniture look new. Universal Furniture Co. is located at 11055 Ventura Blvd., Studio City; [phone]. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. They will pick up and deliver your patio furniture for an additional nominal charge.

Bartlett's Home Furnishings has more than 8,000 unfinished furniture items in stock. Don't worry about not knowing how to refinish the furniture. Their expert staff gives free advice even after you get it home. When you finish your furniture yourself, you usually save 20 percent to 30 percent off retail

prices. Be sure to check out Bartlett's monthly sales. Until March 31, you can purchase a five-piece dining room set with butterfly table and four bow-back chairs in solid hardwood for $299.95 (normally $344). Bartlett's Home Furnishings is located at 3725 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; [phone]. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday.

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Photo: Super buys, large selections and some crowding await you at Valley Produce & Deli Inc.

Bob Halvorsen/Daily News