Food Prices

16 years ago

I just read that the Labor Dept. has issued figures that show that during the first four months of this year the seasonally adjusted rate for food prices rose 6.7% compared to 2.1% for the entire year last year!

I know I'm feeling the pinch - it seems everytime I go to the market the price of chicken (which I eat a lot) has gone up. Fish is wickedly expensive and I live in a fishing port where it comes right off the boat to the fish market. Whole grain bread is rising too (no pun intended).

It seems that the stockpile of grain world wide is diminishing and since it seems there is money iln growing corn for ethynol some farmers are turning grainfileds into cornfields.

I worry about how this must be affecting low and fixed income folks. No wonder there's so much obesity - it's getting more and more expensive to eat healthy - even supposing a person knew how.

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Comments (41)

lilod
16 years ago
Yes Sheila, you are correct about food prices; I am on a low and fixed income, still eating healthy, since I know how.
What goes by the board are the "small indulgences"
The rush to ethanol is affecting the cost of feed, and the cost of transportation is affecting the cost of everything.
California's Central Valley used to be prime agricultural and it is turning more and more into subdivisions and most ag-land is being turned into vineyards,if it's not growing corn for ethanol.
I still have a small band of chickens - organically fed - so if I have nothing else, there shall be eggs.
And all those vineyards over producing will make it possible to have cheap wine. Eggs and wine: a healthy diet?
Pidge
16 years ago
LOL, Lilo--probably not but if you add a little cheese and some chopped tomatoes and onions, you could have a great omelet.
I have two grandkids staying with me this week--ages 5 and 7--and I feel like I am on a merry-go-round with shopping trips. We are eating very healthy but some of the prices for stuff like organic juice, which DH and I would never have on hand, is startling to a person who hasn't bought stuff like that for a long time. And they eat about every five minutes. Well, not that often, but my kitchen feels like a short-order diner.
I haven't noticed individual prices going up as much as I just feel a little pinch overall.
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Good ideas so far. A few other ideas to keep in mind: Price per pound is good, but also keep in mind price per serving. For instance, a boneless roast is worth much more than bone-in. Compute waste into your end cost calculations. Also, sometimes you can find "individual" serving sizes can actually save you money. For instance, one of my "treats" is occasional snack/junk food. Rather than buy a big bag of potato chips which will go stale quickly when opened, I buy the single serve bags of the assorted chips/popcorn/cheese curls at Aldi. That lasts me 4-6 months and satisfies my treat desire. Certainly more expensive than buying a big bag of generic chips, but factor in the waste (as mentioned before) it still is cheaper. A friend has young kids and buys sliced cheese rather than block since a kid's slice is a slice whether 1/32" thick or 1.5" thick! Granted, they could slice it for them, but they splurge a bit on that with a compensation. A calculator, pen and paper are your best friends for shopping. Just because an endcap says it's on sale doesn't mean it's a good value. Frugal living is not something learned or embraced overnight. It's a lifestyle that you get into more and more. Accept that now and then you'll get fooled on a cost, we all have. For instance, seeing what you think is a good buy and it turns out the size is smaller than usual, or whatever. I always recommend the Tightwad Gazette series to people to use as a learning tool. It gives you ideas to think out of the box as they say. For instance, maybe you can't save money this week on groceries. Don't fret. But how about saving on paper towels? Start using washable rags and ween yourself off paper towels? Perhaps a different toilet paper will work for you? I, and many others, like Scott brand and there's some generics with the same ideal. 1000 sheets per roll and if you start to watch your use (don't go crazy, but pay attention) this can be a very frugal product. Again, factor in the number of sheets since that's how you use it. One roll of Scott is equivalent to 5-7 rolls of other brands. I usually buy it for about 50-60Â¢ per roll. Perhaps you can use some cloth napkins instead of paper napkins? Dedicate some washcloths. They don't have to be fancy. And don't make a special purchase, use what you have. Other things, the usual turn off lights/TV/radio/stove etc not in use, unplug "wall warts" when not in use, use CFLs for significant savings. When baking, you can turn off the oven ahead of time and use residual heat to finish up. These are all starting steps. "Baby steps" if you please. Keep calm by all means don't panic. Record your successes and pat yourself on the back for them. Pay attention to your money and compare your bills. Do you have some old receipts? Track them and see what you're paying for that can of beans, or tuna, or celery. Log prices of commonly purchased items and learn what really is a good price. If you buy something only once a year, it's not as important as something you buy weekly. Of course don't forget gasoline. If you don't have to make that trip this time, you'll save money just in gas. Check your insurance for better prices and to see if you're overinsured. Maybe you can share things and split costs. Do you have a neighbor that can use part of a bulk pack that saves you both money? Or can just one of you shop for both if you only need a few things? Or carpool to the store? Reduce, reuse, repair, recycle. Have a pantry and sometimes go without? Don't torture yourself but maybe instead of a special trip to get meat for dinner, you settle for omelets for supper, or canned soup and enjoy something different. Very important: Mindset. If you look at it as an adventure and new experience it'll go fine. If you look at it as depriving yourself, it won't. You're doing what you have to do. And be cautious of false pride. Make it known that you'd rather receive a ham or turkey as a gift instead of a souvenier plate from Disneyland. Are you in a situation where you can share a garden? Someone can come use your land for a garden, or hunting or something and you get part of the "take"? Again, think outside of the box. Trick yourself into saving money. For instance we often use too much shampoo for example. Take the bottle and dilute it 50/50 with water. It'll work as well and you'll cut your cost in half. A disabled husband can present unique challenges for you. Not knowing the nature you may not be able to turn down the heat too much and use sweaters, sweatshirts, etc. But you could close off rooms that aren't in use and turn off the heat registers in there too. There's a lot of good info in the forum. And a lot of good, caring people. It's helpful to kick ideas around, success stories, failures, suggestions and the like. I know you have ideas to contribute too. Don't be bashful! Keep on posting! Let us know how it's going!
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calliope
16 years ago
It's been steadily climbing for quite awhile now, but hidden in the processed food area by more fillers, and using cheaper meat cuts. I've noticed it most in produce and all the more reason to have a garden plot. With our unkind weather this spring, I've really been spending a lot of time keeping my veggie garden up this year, but the stuff looks great and there's enough for fresh and then to can later.

The cost of eating healthy foods isn't much or any more than the costs of those people who buy a lot of processed and junk food, actually. You just have to be willing to scratch cook and buy ahead when things are on sale and do a little butchering of your own. For example, I found ten pound bags of chicken legs and thighs here for less than seven dollars a bag. Yes, I bought two bags, husband pieced them and one bag I served for a family cookout and the other I froze. That's seventy cent a pound protein.

I sell cage free eggs, and finally doubled my egg price over two years ago from the cost of feed going up. It's a justified rise, though. Eggs have remained about the same price here for nearly twenty years, but expenses surely haven't....they've doubled.
Janis_G
16 years ago
It is only going to go higher.
Droughts, flood, etc.

I'm thinking we should buy a little house in the country
so we could grow our own food, raise our chickens.

My sis and I used to can and freeze the produce from her
garden. In the past few years her husband hasn't had much
of a garden but he may have to start back on a larger
scale.

Gosh when I was growing up my parents grew a hugh garden
and we had chickens and pigs. One thing about it, we had plenty of food.

I can't believe how high my food bill is these days.
lilod
16 years ago
There are secrets to eating less expensive and well, but most folks would rather pop a dinner into the microwave particularly if they cook for one, such as I do,
Chicken-legs and chicken-thighs are economical, or split breasts rather than the skinned/boned ones. I save all bones in the freezer,and when I have enough, I make soup, often adding vegetables which have seen better days - call it garbage soup.
Something I will spend money on are condiments, herbs and spices can be had in bulk at the health food store, and they convert plain food, such as lentils and rice, or any sort of beans, into many ethnic (or fusion) type dishes, takes imagination.
My aim is to by-pass prepared and processed food as much as possible, and I really do like to chop and peel and prep my meals and then come up with a "presentation" - Joann and I often cook and eat together and have fun doing that. She used to be a professional cook, nice to have one in the family.
If it comes to eggs and wine, I think we will ask our Native population how they converted acorns into flour; it was one of their staples, perhaps the Elders still know.
Plenty acorns around.
sheila
Original Author
16 years ago
I can't think of the last processed food I bought. I buy pretty much the things you do, Lilo....except I don't grow my own food and I only cook for one as a rule and that does make things more expensive. And, because I don't grow it, I usually buy my produce organic from the Co-Op or the local Farmer's Market. I do try to buy local whenever possible and that is usually not less expensive despite no shipping costs.

However, I do think I could probably make more "batch" things and freeze individual servings for later - except I'm not fond of frozen food even if I froze it myself, except for soups and saucy things like chili.
calliope
16 years ago
Cooking for one can be a bummer. It seems when I am the only one I need to cook for, I can't get inspired. Ditto, it's hard to cook for one because it takes just as much effort as cooking for six, and especially with things like roasts, the piece of meat is so little, it turns to a hockey puck.

I like to round robin when I am batching it. IOW, I'll invite someone to dinner and then COOK! Reciprocity is expected when I do this, and the next good meal they can invite me. LOL.

No, buying locally is often not cheaper because the it lacks the shortcuts, buying power, and automation the factory farms use. But, it's so much kinder to the environment and supports what farms we have left and keeps the money local. I find they skip the steps like waxing fruit, gassing to ripen, and all those other things I wish they didn't do to food. I don't think it's my imagination that it is fresher and tastes better. If you buy bulk right at the farm/orchard the cost savings can be really significant. I bought a bushel of apples from a friend who owns a local orchard. I paid nine dollars for the thirty five pound bushel. If I bought the same thing at the market, I'd have paid 2.oo the pound or seventy dollars for the equivalent fruit. I saved sixty one dollars....and turned it into applesauce, applebutter and pies.
Janis_G
16 years ago
Suzy, I want to come live with you.
mwoods
16 years ago
Everyone who eats food should read The Omnivore's Dilemma,A Natural History of Four Meals,by Michael Pollan. It came out a few months ago and if you read it,you'll never look at food the same way again. The first chapter,a very long chapter is devoted totally to corn....how growing it has completely changed from the way it used to be grown just a few years ago,the mega bucks being spent on just the synthesized nitrogen being used to fertilize it,the fact that cattle now almost forced fed corn instead of the grass which they naturally want to eat,feedlots and how they operate and the farmers who grow it and the politics involved. That's just the first chapter.PLEASE read this book.
lilod
16 years ago
I read the book, it's fascinating, even though I knew a good deal about food and it's sources prior to reading his book, he puts it together so well.
endorphinjunkie
16 years ago
I take it the phrase "Grow your own" is taking on a whole new meaning.....

Elia
mwoods
16 years ago
I found much of it appalling Lilo. Having lived in Iowa for several years and taught in a community where the majority of people farmed corn,I was amazed at the way it's done now as opposed to then and the huge industrialization taking place here and internationally. I of course knew about feedlots,but didn't have much of an idea of feedlot "cities" entailed. The sources of food,as you stated,was no surprise but what goes on with that found until gets to our plates,well it doesn't leave much room for healthy food choices.
andie_rathbone
16 years ago
The thing about a lot of farms now is that they are owned by big corporations like Archer, Daniel Midland (one of the great Satans of industrialized agriculture), so there really is very little family-run farming these days on any kind of scale.Farmers & ranchers in large part are, in reality, employees of a large corporation only they work outside instead of in an office.

I'm lucky here because we can grow a lot of our own produce & grow it about 10 months out of the year. Plus we now have a wholly organic farmer's market that is open every weekend so I can buy my produce from growers who I know. It's probably about the same price as I'd pay for the factory farmed stuff at the grocery store, but the quality is so much better it's well worth it. We usually stock up & can or freeze things for the winter months.

After all the food scares in the past year, plus reading some books like Fast Food Nation & Barbara Kingsolver's new book on food, the thought of processed food has no appeal anymore, no matter hows convenient it is.
calliope
16 years ago
What really freaked me out was a few years ago I noticed supermarket winter tomatoes wouldn't rot. They just sat there in the basket for weeks and went into suspended animation. I cut one open to see if it were still good and found all the seeds in the cavities were germinating inside the tomato. Good Lordy. That is only supposed to happen in mammals.
andie_rathbone
16 years ago
LOL! Those are what I call cardboard tomatoes & I guess seeds could germinate in cardboard too, couldn't they? Luckily, we can get tomatoes out of our garden until the first really hard freeze which sometimes doesn't happen until December around here. I put in a fall crop under shade cloth in August & water them like crazy & then I get a fall crop. If I can't get a real tomato, I just go without them. Those hard as rock ones just aren't worth it.
meldy_nva
16 years ago
Well, I avoid shopping as much as possible -- including to the grocery store. Luckily, when DH retired, he took over that onerous and much-detested chore. DH has been mentioning the increase in prices, but attributed it to higher diesel/gasoline costs. However, I make a sojourn to the BigStore every 6 months, just to buy paper towels, TP, and a few other odd items such as canned mushrooms. Last night was The Night To Shop, and wow! Yes, the prices have jumped! The paper towels and the TP were *double* the price from January -- and DH assures me that is still much less than the grocery charges. Overall, the bill was about 80% higher than it has been for the last several visits. I suspect the jump might not have been quite as noticeable for those who shop weekly, but I sure saw the difference.

I noticed y'all don't really like to cook for one or two. Me neither, except for frittatas. Most of my recipes are for 6 or 8, and I continue to make them. I freeze the extra servings, and actually only cook two or three times a week. Now, if anything happens that would make it impossible to freeze... then I'd have a problem.
Josh
16 years ago
DH and I mostly eat veggies and fruit, organic when available and fresh-looking. We might have a pork chop but we'll have 2 vegs and salad or slaw. Often a bit of meat added to some dish like potatoes au gratin...or to a big green salad. I roast chicken and beef and freeze in small portions. Fruit is always added to cereal/oatmeal, eaten daily as snacks, often a carrot or apple salad as side dish or alone.

The only fruit halfway reasonable is bananas...we eat 6-8 a week. I try and buy "in season" but nowadays that doesn't seem to affect price...From my last grocery list: Nectarines were almost $1 apiece, strawberries $3 per basket, Broccoli $2.19, 8 medium size Tomatoes for $8.37 ($2.49 per lb.) Bagged baby spinach $3.29, mixed salad greens $3.49. 2 Apples were $1.55 Squash-10 small - $3.90 12 small red potatoes $1.55 Carrots only 79cents and celery at $2 seemed reasonable...

I didn't need onions,garlic, peppers, lemons/oranges, baking or sweet potatoes, parsley or mushrooms. But these and most of above will be needed next time. Probably something more I'm forgetting...

All cheese is expensive and we use a LOT, but I grate/shred my own. Dairy...we like whole milk, yogurt, etc.. Not sure if it's cheaper or more expensive...we prefer full-bodied taste to the low-fat versions. And real butter! Bread from bakery is so good...whole wheat English Muffins and French and Egg Bread...definitely worth the cost.

I buy bags of the mixed veggies frozen but don't really enjoy them...just good to have on hand. Ice cream I buy for DH and occasionally cookies but I prefer a handful of nuts and a dried apricot or two...o'course these are also expensive...LOL (Or Gingersnaps...I've been dunkin' like mad and almost finished the box...they are great with coffee!)

Don't see how I could cut back grocery list...will just have to buy fewer magazine subscriptions or something if prices keep rising. Just glad I don't have a teenager or little'uns to feed. No car now since DH and I no longer drive...my housekeeper shops for us. I love not having to drive or shop and consider her wages a good tradeoff...works well for us. I wish I'd thought of it years ago! josh
elease
16 years ago
The extreme rise is price is mind boggling. A couple of weeks ago 9-lives cat food in the 4 can wrapper was 1.00 on sale, now it is 1.56!! I got the store band which also went up. Produce is out of sight- even at the farm market stawberries are $4 a quart.It will get much worse with all the land now going to corn for ethanol-a real rip off for the big corn producers. I eat very little meat but am allergic to dairy products so no cheese. I guess my home made peanut butter is a good source of protein.Honestly when I read the ingredients on the better dry cat food- it is much more nutritious than whan we eat- even lots of veggies.
lilod
16 years ago
I have been using a lesser known brand of olive oil which tasted better than some premium brands, paid ten dollars plus change for 1 liter, went to the store yesterday, it was on my list. Experienced major sticker-shock: seventeen dollars plus change for the liter!
Had I known this was coming I'd have stocked up more, but then eventually the piper has to be paid.
I couldn't handle it, bought a pint of another brand and will wait until there is a sale...or give in and pay the price.
mwoods
16 years ago
I haven't seen an increase in food prices that I haven't seen in just about everything,including gasoline..clothes...newspapers...plants..housing,you name it.
meldy_nva
16 years ago
I think some of the sticker-shock is that the greatest jumps are in what we normally think of as being low or lower-cost items. It didn't surprise me to see canned sliced mushrooms tagged 30% higher than in December, but I was appalled to find both TP and paper towels more than doubled in cost. Mushrooms and paper towels may be luxuries, but as said elsewhere, who really wants to do without TP? I, too, am grateful not have little ones in the house.

I haven't noticed fresh fruits or vegs as being higher than in January/February; OTOH, our vegs mostly come from the garden and I usually don't look at what my fresh fruit is costing --- it's up but not by more than about 10% from last fall.
nannyp
16 years ago
Boy, I've been telling my husband that food prices were going up and I think he wasn't sure I was telling him the whole truth. There are only two of us. I know it is a struggle for those with families.
calliope
16 years ago
Where food spending is any sort of issue or question in a household, it's a good idea to send the spouse who does not usually do it, armed with the grocery list, and let them experience it firsthand.

I did just that, and had the very pleasant surprise of finding out he makes a rather respectable shopper after he recovered from sticker shock. Now, when I am swamped with work, I feel more than comfortable letting him wander around the market without worrying he'll come back laden with twinkies, and t-bone steaks.

The price rise is one way for forcing Americans to take second looks at their eating habits, and it might be a blessing in disguise in the long run. Shoppers shall go one of two ways, either they'll start cooking from basics again or buy the cheapest processed foods they can and find they're getting less and less nutrition for the $ with more fillers being added.

My step-daughter and her husband are adopting five siblings, and have two of their own in their home. She told me her last grocery bill was four figures. I can't even wrap my brain around a four figure grocery bill.
meldy_nva
16 years ago
Four figures how often?
meldy_nva
16 years ago
Calliope ~ I had to go home to get the correct spelling of author's name, but I do reccommend the [complete] book for your SD. It's really not so much about How-To, it's about Attitude. We who grew up with make-do and do-it-ourselves will already know about 80% of the contents, but the other 20% is more than worth the cost the book.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tightwad Gazette
bigfoot_liz
16 years ago
there are drastic differences across the country in pricing too. we were in chicago in Feb :-0 and i found filet mignon for $3.99 a lb! we never eat that here (orlando) it's $7-10 a lb. milk was almost $2 a gallon cheaper there too, diet pepsi was $1 a 1/2 case cheaper, eggs were $0.59 a dozen, here close to $2.

we are watching our portion sizes very carefully now (too lose weight too) so that we can still eat what we want just palm sized meat/fish portions. i'm still going to find cheaper sources thou infact this post reminded me i was going to check out costco & sam's club for meat and a local seafood market today. it's sad but it's almost cheaper to buy lean cuisine or weight watchers frozen dinners on sale than to buy seafood (even in FL) or meats. produce and fruit have become sooo expensive i'm seriously thinking of going back to growing some of our own which is no fun in the FL summers LOL. atleast there's only 2 of us so our 1 tomato plant right now can keep up w/ the damand LOL. ~ liz
calliope
16 years ago
Hi Liz, long time no see! Meldy, how often she spends the grand was going to be my next question, but our conversation got interrupted and I didn't get to enquire. She is a "consumer" as far as usually wanting all the newest things, but as far as making a penny stretch, she's also very good at that, and prides herself on it. If I bought that for her, even with good intentions, I suspect it would hurt her feelings. Thanks for the title, however, one can always learn even more tricks, and I might just get it for ME! I suspect with minimum of ten mouths, and often half again that much with a constant stream of extended family in to visit, that a lot of food was bought in bulk and put in a pantry. She also commutes a long distance to work and again suspect that a lot of that food dollar goes toward convenience.
andie_rathbone
16 years ago
I was thinking about this thread this morning when I was at the local organic farmers' market. I know organic food is better than chain grocery store stuff & I want to support our local farmers, but $4.00 for 6 ears of corn? Also $3.00 for a dozen eggs & $4.00 for 6 tomatoes & $8.00 for a quart of blueberries. Have to say that I won't be going there every week.
mwoods
16 years ago
We have lots of farmers markets around here but none of them are organic. Lucky you.
calliope
16 years ago
I don't need to go so far as actual organic to feel good about local produce. If it's not factory farmed, it still has a good chance of being free of most of the things I don't like about supermarket fare. The produce at our farmer's market isn't waxed, gassed, imported from across the ocean or held for weeks in some warehouse. It likely isn't grown using illegal workforces, either. I sell cage free eggs at $2.00 the dozen, but they're huge, right from the chickens' butts, and so fresh the yolks stand at attention when you crack them in a skillet. They're so unlike the ones in supermarkets, I have had customers who never had eaten a farm egg call me up and ask why the shells are so hard to crack (the chickens get enough calcium, that's why) or why the yolk "doesn't lay down flat" (flat yolks aren't fresh yolks). My price just about covers the feed and that's it. That's what it costs to produce a humane cage-free product.

Cheap prices aren't as cheap as they first seem. Think of the money going in to mass transport, road taxes and repairs, ecologic cleanup from motor emissions, run-off from those huge mega farms into the water system. You pay for cheap food in other ways. But, you pay.
andie_rathbone
16 years ago
Suzy, I understand what you say, but the dilemma as I see it is if the prices I saw on Saturday are typical than supporting local food producers is a feel good activity of middle class people with discretionary money to spare. Given the decision between supermarket eggs at 79-cents/dz of the organic ones at $3.00/dz, isn't even a decision. There's something wrong with a food distribution system that relegates lower income people to poison food from Wal-Mart.
calliope
16 years ago
I totally, totally agree with you. My husband was telling me about the vendor next to him at market yesterday selling new potatoes at eight dollars for ten pounds. There isn't any excuse for that, save the novelty. Sweet corn for five dollars the dozen and baby watermelons for eight. No excuse for that except people were coughing up the loot. What it has boiled down to for nearly four decades has been the wholesale demise of the small farm.

It smacked me across the face when I was majoring in agriculture. Taught in the curriculum from the ground up to kiss it goodbye. The majority of our class were kids from family farms, and they were being told to 'forget it'and get with the program. Of course, who "helps" colleges with grants? Big business, that's who. It was a self-fulfilling prophecy.
meldy_nva
16 years ago
Locale, again? Local grocery store price for baby watermelon is 7.99. I said earlier that I ignored the fresh fruit cost... I now retract that statement. Just since last week the prices [for the items I usually buy] have gone up 50%, 100%, and 120%. Okay, this is 'off-season' for local fruit, but so was last week. A bowl (slightly more than 1 cup volume) of cut melon, which in February and March was $2, went to 2.50 in April, and $3 in May was [today] priced at $5.99.

Makes me wonder what we are being set up for? $8 for a melon that last year I paid $5..... am I supposed to be thrilled if it goes on sale for $6?
pardner-2007
16 years ago
Watch those packages of meat. I have seen labels that read, "No more than 16% of injected enhancing fluid" sometimes it's less. Any is too much to suit me.
That cheaper price may not be a bargain if a good percentage of it is fluid. I think roasts may be the worse. I don't like the idea of injected fluid.
Josh
16 years ago
Asparagus $4 for 12 pencil-size stalks.
Red seedless grapes $1.89 lb.
4 corn on cob $2.50
English cucumber $2
6 tomatoes $4.50
2 small grapefruit $2.38 (I thought they were oranges due to size!)
2 oranges $2.50
8 lemons $4.00
Bananas 10 for 1.50 (bargain!)
4 Baking Potatoes $3.38
White Onions - 10 - $2.00
Red Potatoes - 10 small - $$2.12
Spinach $2 bag
Salad Greens $3.90
Yellow Squash - 10 small - $2.26

Almost $37 for one week or maybe 10 days worth of produce for DH and I and doesn;t include celery, pepper, carrots, apples, onions, yams, on hand. And one bunch of mixed flowers for $12...gotta feed the soul, too, ya'know.

Until this thread I'd no idea just how much of our grocery dollar goes to produce. This is from Publix...but doubt much cheaper from Farmers Market. Since we no longer drive and pay for housekeeper's time shopping for us, doubt it would be sensible even if a little cheaper for her to make 2 stops. josh
meldy_nva
16 years ago
Josh ~ shopping at local farmer's stands or a local farmer's market would a) help support local farmers, rather than long-distance industries; b) better the odds that you are getting produce with low-pesticide residues since most of the locals are eating what they are growing AND are more personally aware of pesticide problems; c) permit you to buy produce that is actually fresh (therefore more nutritious) rather than being 2 or 3 weeks old; and d) will offer the best prices at the height of the season, which is a good reminder to us to use more of what is growing now, and that we should/will pay premium for out-of-season non-local items. It really doesn't take much longer to stop by a good produce stand than it does to wriggle a cart around the big grocery.

Looking at your list, which seems to be a fairly standard produce list: consider that asparagus is past season in my area and I'm farther north than you; the grapes, citrus fruits and bananas were likely shipped a thousand miles to your store; the spinach and salad greens were processed - that is picked, sorted, washed, fumigated or disinfected, possibly cut into bite-size pieces, and then bagged, and likely took a week just to get to the bagging step, then are shipped -usually across country- to sit in the grocer's refrigerator for another couple weeks. The potatoes were probably loose from bins, and that usually *increases* the price (locally, a 5-lb bag of baking potatoes is less than $4, from the bin 99Â¢ lb). In my area in-season produce includes strawberries [going out] and raspberries [coming in], cantalopes and small melons, all the salad greens, broccoli and some cole crops, as well as tomatoes and peppers. Local store offered English cucumbers at 10 for $10, but that was a special -- which makes one wonder at the profit margin some stores are indulging in! But my thought is that you and many others are buying a lot of non-local and non-seasonal items, and paying a premium price for food that is not quite as fresh as from a local farmer's stand.
Josh
16 years ago
Meldy, I agree in principle, but in summer heat of above 90F here it doesn't take long for fruits and veggies to age rapidly, and while some or even most may have been recently picked, there is no guarantee...you just have to go by looks. I'm sure I could save a small amount, but would still have to go thru produce section at the grocery for things not grown locally.

I definitely agree about the bagged mixed greens...but I've learned that buying several types of lettuce greens is more than we can use and I wind up tossing half in trash rather than in salad bowl. The same is true of buying bags of potatoes...those and lettuce can't be frozen. I often do cut up carrots, onions, leeks, celery, tomatoes to freeze for soup if I have excess. Yams I cook up with brown sugar and citrus slices...freezes beautifully and it's a favorite "dessert" or snack for me....DH says I put in too much citrus rind. LOL

I really should do a better job of keeping up with what's "in season" but how do I do that? But you know, even peaches picked locally are picked too early and must be allowed to ripen on counter... then must be eaten quickly or will spoil. We've decided Nectarines taste just as good and keep fresh longer...not sure where they're grown. Are Plums in season now? And Kiwis? Can you tell talking about food makes me hungry?

I guess the hardest thing is trying to buy just enough of any one thing to not have it spoil and have as great a variety as possible for 2 picky eaters. I wish we liked frozen veggies as I've read they actually are better than "not quite fresh" but we had corn on the cob last night and it was so much better than the frozen! Which brings up another point: I could eat freshcorn almost every night this week but DH doesn't like the same dish 2 nights in a row...thus a few bits of this and a few bits of that have to be prepared and cooked for just 2, then tomorrow another few bits of different veggies. I often sneak leftovers into soup or salad, or eat them myself while he fixes his own dinner...lol

I really envy y'all that have gardens. I should at least try to grow tomatoes as I can eat 2=3 a day when the really good ones are available. Will they be in season soon? josh
andie_rathbone
16 years ago
Josh, Your tomatoes should be in season now. I started picking mine ripe off the vine several weeks ago & mine got a late start because of late freezes and too much rain.

A rip to the farmers market, even if you don't buy anything, will tell you what's in season locally.
meldy_nva
16 years ago
Josh has point in that it is difficult to buy for only two. OTOH, I've found that local farmers will often split a package whereas the BigGrocer certainly won't unwrap and divide. I also agree that a lack of refrigeration is a big handicap, but since I shop first thing in the morning, it doesn't bother me -- I'm going for freshness and I realize that fresh-picked just isn't at the end of the day.

What's seasonal is not necessarily what's available locally, but one of the links below should give you some ideas about what to look for. Keep in mind that the best of the local farmstands will try to have a long season, that is, they will plant early-, mid-, and late-season strawberries so as to be able to provide strawberries for a couple months instead of a couple weeks. Anyhow, I listed some of the more informative sites:

For the Northeast; a very good variety of produce is listed.
http://www.nutrition.cornell.edu/foodguide/archive/lists.html

A nice little general guide, click on the pic and find some recipes
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/ck_cg_produce_guide/

NC does it with a calendar
http://www.ncagr.com/markets/chart.htm

Look for a CSA in your area. A written list from Kentucky.
http://www.sylvanusfarm.com/prod.html

A list of CSAs. Follow the links right to your locale.
http://www.localharvest.org/csa/

A written list from NY
http://65.169.22.124/seasonal2.html

USDA list of FarmerÂs Markets in each state. You can contact the market to see whatÂs available.
http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/

Here is a link that might be useful: Farmer's Markets in every state
Josh
16 years ago
Meldy, Good gracious, you are so helpful. I did find a good resource listing seasonal foods for Atlanta (about 100 miles from me) which will definitely help me know when/what to buy for best prices. I'm including the link as other cities are listed.

Andie, the woman who works parttime for me also works at one of the big churches here preparing weekly meals for 2to400 covers, plus does private catering. She is diligent about selecting my produce, so probably overlooks the less than perfect tomatoes for those hothouse jobs...I'll clue her in pronto that I prefer the homely ones...lol

I guess I really need to go to the Farmers Market and grocery myself ... it just seemed extra effort when I could be home dusting ~grin~ I'll be a better shopper too thanks to y'all. Not sure I;ll actually save money as the magazine rack is tempting not to mentiom impulse purchases not on my list. You can't win sometimes. josh

Here is a link that might be useful: Seasonal Foods
kabuti
16 years ago
The main concern should not be the price so much as whether there will even be food to buy in the not-so-distant future. We have set ourselves up for a huge catastrophe, by relying on a food supply that is trucked in daily & God forbid, should that supply be disrupted for over 3 days the grocery shelves will be EMPTY. Not to mention most people wouldn't have a clue how to actually grow any type of food as generations now have become completely disconnected from the land. Our culture is so vulnerable. Think about it.

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