I live in the wheat fields of Kansas and at our local farmers market they are $2.50 so $1.99 looks good,=. I paid $1.50 a pound for Yukon Gold potatoes. I did not realize how much they were until the vendor said five pounds that will be $7.50 and I about fainted.

I paid $12.00 for a 1/2 bushel of tomatoes. A friend of mine told me about another farm stand that charges $9.00 for a 1/2 bushel. I have no idea of how many pounds that is.

You need to weigh those baskets of tomatoes and other veggies when you get them home. I've heard people where I live mention they paid MORE at these farm stands and Farmer's markets than at the local grocery store. You may do better at a local store.

Yes, sometimes I pay more at farm stands. Smaller-scale operations can't always operate as cost-effectively as larger ones.

But sometimes it's worth it to me---the veggies were picked fresh by hand THAT MORNING, usually, and I know exactly where they came from. I'm happy to pay a few dollars more support my local farmers.

Zabby

Just found a website that says a bushel of tomatoes is about 53 pounds. So $12.00 for 1/2 bushel is really, really good!!

I often pay more at our locally grown Farmers Market than the grocery store weekly specials too - but as Zabby pointed out, they are picked that day (important to me for my pickling cukes especially) and in the case of our market - organically grown without pesticides. The idea of offering organically grown produce is slowly catching on in our area retail stores, but its a small percentage of what is displayed.

Same idea: We're picking up our tuna this morning - I'll process that tomorrow. I can buy it cheaper already canned at Costco :) but it wouldn't be the same end product.

We can buy organically grown food here at Publix. Since it's so much higher in price, we bypass it. Our only good farmer's market is quite aways from here and closes at 11 AM. You have to be an early bird to get there before the sellers are picked clean.

The last time I had to buy tomatoes for canning....I paid fifteen dollars for a bushel from a local stand. Usually at farmer's market they'd go for less, because they don't have the work involved in bagging the smaller amounts. If I don't see produce I want in bushel sizes, I ask. Without an exception, they're happy to reduce the price to move a bushel.

Don't even go there with canning store tomatoes, unless you see a sign saying they're 'home grown' and you can believe it. The tomato varieties found in most markets are the commercial ones bred for automation. They're square, dry and tasteless. Argh! I'd pay more for the priveledge of a really tasty tomato.

I bought a half bushel today in Vermont for nine bucks, but the guy said it was 30 pounds. So I guess I got a little more than an actual half bushel, and I was only paying $0.30 a pound! Given that I'd been to the downtown (Burlington) farmers' market earlier and saw tomatoes for up to $4 a pound, I think I did pretty good!

--Gina

Here is a link that might be useful: Lindsey's Luscious

In Virginia, conventionally grown local Hanover tomatoes (red, yellow, pink, and green of all sizes and shapes) are $1/lb at my produce stand. Their half-bushels are usually either small ones or bruised ones, so I just pay by the pound.

Melissa

Goodness on the prices. Was at the fruit pick your own and the tomatos were 2.95 a lb. The fruit crop was damaged so it had been dropped to 50 cents a lb.

Those blue plums were yummie sorry did not pick more.

ML

I have to buy produce as I don't have a good sunny spot for a garden.

At a local vegetable stand I paid $25 for 25lb of tomatoes (about 1/2 bushel). Went into Minneapolis to the farmers market and got the same amount of organic tomatoes for $14. Prices ranged there from $14-20 for 1/2 bushel.

Paid $3 for a flat of green beans, only got 3 pints of canned beans out of it, tho. I thought that was a little high....

But as others have said, I don't mind paying a bit more to have my own, home-canned goods.

Linda

I bought 2 bushels at a local Mennonite produce stand for $24/bushel. Vine ripened and ready to use. I already canned 19 pts of Annie's Salsa, sorted the bushels and froze 2 gallons of overripe tomatoes that will be cooked and strained for sauce. And I still have 1 1/4 bushels left.

I have to buy produce as I don't have a good sunny spot for a garden.

At a local vegetable stand I paid $25 for 25lb of tomatoes (about 1/2 bushel). Went into Minneapolis to the farmers market and got the same amount of organic tomatoes for $14. Prices ranged there from $14-20 for 1/2 bushel.

Paid $3 for a flat of green beans, only got 3 pints of canned beans out of it, tho. I thought that was a little high....

But as others have said, I don't mind paying a bit more to have my own, home-canned goods.

Linda