SE Mass Grocery Blues

13 years ago

Transplanted, here I remain. But jeepers, the grocery store produce sections are horrors! It isn't even just that the prices are so outrageous ($3.49 for a cauliflower??), but the poor quality and lack of variety floors me! Was I just way spoiled in California, or are there better stores/produce markets I just don't know about?

I did find a hole in the wall Asian market here in town where I can pick up the odd bunch of Chinese broccoli or mustard greens, but it isn't really much of a store.

Any of you in SE Mass (Brockton area) have favorite produce stores, butchers, Asian markets? I know I can go into Boston if need be, but as I'm sharing a fridge with a family for now, major shopping trips for things only I will eat aren't in the plan.

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Comments (10)

rob333 (zone 7b)
13 years ago
Spoiled. I had "fresh produce shock" when I moved to Tennessee. California is the best for produce and seafood. Boston may have very good different seafood.

I hope you get some good pointers!

:(
gemini40
13 years ago
Have you tried Market Basket in Raynham ? Not familiar with stores in that area.
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jimster
13 years ago
Most places you are stuck with Shaw's and Stop and Shop. Some of those have been expanded and upgraded, but that doesn't make the produce equal to what you had in California. I had the same reaction when I went to buy cauliflower. Returned home without it. I mostly shop the sales, which keeps my bill within reason.

There are a few Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and Roche Bros. but I don't know if any are near you. I've heard that Wegman's is coming to Mass. soon, in metro west I think, which would be quite a trip from where you are.

For Asian groceries, it will be worth making an occasional trip to H Mart, north of Boston near the Burlington Mall. It is huge!

In another month or two, farmers' markets will start opening. During summer and fall you will have better, less expensive produce.

Jim
Teresa_MN
13 years ago
Rachel - email me your new address. I'll send more wild rice to help you through this time of adjustment!

Teresa
claire_de_luna
13 years ago
Rachelellen, I had the exact same reaction when I came from California to KC. That's when I started embracing the frozen foods section, which was hard for me since I always thought buying fresh was better. Well in this case, ''fresh'' wasn't very, so like Jim mentions, I also wait eagerly for the farmers markets in my area. After living in a breadbasket of beautiful food, dealing with what is shipped many miles is a hard adjustment.
lori316
13 years ago
Yes, Market Basket is usually decent, and of course as Jim said, when the weather gets good, hit the farmers' markets.

I'm a few miles south of you down Rt. 24. Shaws stores are closing left and right. I bought about $15 worth of berries on Sunday night at Stop & Shop. When I went to use them Monday morning, they were all furry with mold. I'm still not over it. What a waste.
seagrass_gw Cape Cod
13 years ago
I live on the outer Cape - I have a summer neighbor who brings me staples for Asian cooking from the Boston area. BLESS HER HEART!! We give her bluefish and striper in return. We've started growing some of our own vegetables. But it would certainly be culture shock to move to New England from California in terms of fresh produce.

We eat more seasonally and the farmer's markets are such a treat. Cauliflower IS expensive, isn't it? I've never tried to grow it.

I don't know what it is, but I'm not all that enamoured with Trader Joe's. There's one in Hyannis, but I don't feel it's worth the drive so unless I'm in the area I never go there.

I do order some specialty foods on line. The big brown truck brings them to my door lol. But not cauliflower.

seagrass
paulines
13 years ago
Hey neighbor!

I work in Easton and live in a neighboring town. Definately check out Market Basket (about 20 minutes or so down 138) and also Athena International Foods in Brockton for great and inexpensive feta, pita, olives, EVOO, good, but limited produce, etc. Hannafords in Easton (on 106) is decent, better than Shaws and S & S.

We recently moved here too (although prior home was only 20 minutes away).
rachelellen
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks folks...I know I will adjust, and ferret out the places foodies know. I did see that Athena International Foods here in Brockton the other day, and mentally filed it away to investigate. HMart sounds great, and it's on the way to Maine when I go visit my stepmother, so I'll check it out.

It's the day to day eating that is a challenge...I am SUCH a fiend for fruits and vegetables. Oh well, if they're more expensive, they're just more expensive. There are worse things I've spent money on during my life. ;)

I will take a spin down to Marketbasket today and check them out.

I'll look forward to discovering where the best farmers markets are...once the local farms have anything to sell! :D
jimster
13 years ago
H Mart has a food court with various ethnicities represented, so plan to have lunch there if if fits your schedule.

Jim

SE Mass Grocery Blues

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