Hello, piglet_and_rogers_mama
I understand that this individual is a former colleague, and that this individual works at a local grocery store - Would I be correct in thinking that you used to work at the same grocery store?! And, perhaps, as you see this individual fairly regularly, that you continue to shop at this store?!
If so, you could use this knowledge to your advantage - You are likely to have an idea of the store's stock etc!
For instance, do you know whether the store regularly sells fresh produce at a reduced price?! Perhaps, the store revises/reduces stock on certain days?! For example, my local store receives their main delivery of stock on a Monday morning, and, therefore, will often have a small variety of reduced fruits/vegetables available that afternoon/evening?!
If this is the case, personally, I would approach this individual whilst shopping, ensuring that I had some more unusual fruits/vegetables in my shopping (Asparagus, Courgette/Zucchini, Green Beans etc. . .), and ask them to confirm the day when the store has reduced fruits/vegetables available: 'Hi - How are you?! I'm pleased to hear you're well/ I'm sorry to hear that! Yeah, I'm OK - I'm just doing a little shopping! I was hoping to pick up some reduced fruits/vegetables, and some more unusual fruits/vegetables for my guinea pigs - I find my guinea pigs have become a little bit bored with their fresh food lately, so wanted to give them something a little different! So. . . I decided to get them a couple of things of this list *Show the individual a list of safe fruits, and vegetables*. . . I'm not so sure about the [X], but I understand that guinea pigs quite like it! Actually, could you confirm/tell me when is the best time to purchase reduced fruits/vegetables - One has to watch the pennies! *Giggle* I'm already buying the guinea pigs [Name of commercial feed], and hay from [Name of place], as I find the food, and hay is reasonably priced from [Name of place]! Although, I do like a bargain - Is it reasonably priced where you buy your guinea pig's food, and hay?!'
Of course, you could expand the conversation about commercial feed, and hay, but you must remain friendly, and make the individual feel that there is great benefits to feeding this, or that! For example, if the guinea pigs are fed an unsuitable commercial feed (A feed not intended for guinea pigs), you could say something on the lines: 'Oh, I used to feed my guinea pigs that food, until my veterinarian told me it was unsuitable - I offered my guinea pigs [X], [Z], and [Y] (Name a few different brands), and, while I saw an immediate improvement in my guinea pigs, I eventually settled on [W] - I find my guinea pigs are thriving on this food. . . And they appear to love it, which is an added bonus!'
If the individual showed a particular interest in the safe fruits, and vegetables list, I would insist that they kept it: 'Here you go - Keep it! No, no - I insist! Really - I'll print another list off when I get home. . . It won't take me two seconds!'
Otherwise, I would attempt to leave the list behind! For example, I would, perhaps, offer to show the individual the pictures that I have on my phone of my guinea pigs (Could open the conversation up further), so that I am required to put the list down, so that I can "accidentally" leave the list behind, or I would, perhaps, "accidentally" drop the list as I walked away!
Of course, one should end the conservation friendly: 'Listen to me - I could talk about my guinea pigs all day. . . In fact. . . I probably do! *Giggle* Anyhow, I won't keep you any longer! Thank you for the information! Take care! Bye for now!'
