by Burgess » Mon Aug 20, 2007 8:08 am
For comparison, here are some produce prices from my last shopping trip at a Fred Meyer store, which is less expensive than Safeway and about 30-50% less expensive than Whole Foods.
Russet potatoes, 10 lb bag of culls, $1.59/bag: $3.18
Organic cantalope (on sale), $0.79/lb: $3.01
Yellow peaches (on deep sale), $0.88/lb: $3.23
Kale, med bunch, not organic: $1.29
Sweet potatoes, $0.99/lb: $5.28
Bananas, nonorganic, $0.49/lb: $0.53
Grapefruit, red, $0.99/lb: $4.02
Mushrooms, brown (cheapest available), $2.49/lb (sale): $2.02
Keep in mind that this is August, just about the cheapest month of the year for produce. Also hold in mind that when I tour the produce section, I buy:
- first, almost anything that has an orange "priced for quick sale" tag.
- then anything under $1/lb.
- then some things under $2/lb.
- then a few rarities (such as mushrooms) that are under $3/lb.
This time I did not buy grapes (about $3/lb, but occasionally on quick sale for $0.99/lb), which I love, or oranges (about $1.50/lb), and I almost never buy fresh tomatoes. I haven't bought lettuce in at least 10 years; it looks sickly (I usually go for strong colors), it isn't filling, and it is too expensive.
Prices for some listed items above, except the nonorganic bananas, are usually higher during the rest of the year.
About half the vegs I buy are frozen, chopped, in large (economical) bags: broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, bell pepper strips, spinach, and others. This way I get lots of variety, year round. I buy berries only in bags of frozen, whole berries. The fresh are much too expensive, even when they are "in season."
I generally avoid organic (too expensive), where I have a choice, and I generally avoid luxury items such as fennel (too expensive), but there is still a lot to choose from.