Local Produce at The Grocery Store
I was in a grocery store recently (which is a rare occurrence for me), I needed kosher salt which isn’t sold at the farmer’s market. I walked through the produce section to see what they had and I was surprised by the price of tomatoes!
Heirloom tomatoes for $3.99 a pound – WOW. I bought a half bushel (which is probably 8-10lbs) at the farmer’s market for only $4.50 (and they looked much nicer). I knew I was saving money by shopping there, but I didn’t realize how much (and the I know the farmer would much rather sell them directly to me because they’ll make more money).
While there, I also noticed that they had a section of local produce. Unfortunately it was only corn, zucchini, spaghetti squash and green peppers. I know local farmer’s are growing much more than that!
It is great that the store is buying some local produce, but this won’t get me back to the grocery store. I would rather be out in the fresh air talking to the people who grow my food. I would rather hand the farmer my $20 rather than a big box grocery chain. Not to mention, the produce is much nicer at the farmer’s market!
So head to your farmer’s market this Saturday (or whatever day it is, check out LocalHarvest.org to find a farmer’s market near you).
Filed under Local | Comments (5)
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Very interesting post…yes, it is true that most things at the farmers market are cheaper (it would seem). I would love to have some heirloom tomatoes about now!
to Joe's comment
Do you not have an farmer’s market nearby? That’s our best source for heirloom tomatoes they come in all colors, shapes and sizes.
I’m hoping to grow 10-15 different kinds of heirlooms next year.
to Susy's comment
When I lived in Colorado the farmer’s market were small and the produce wasn’t that great so I was a big fan of the local WHole Foods which stocked the same local choices in addition to organic and conventionally grown produce from other areas. It also had two huge bulk aisles that I could spend days in. Now that we moved the Whole Foods is tiny and doesn’t really offer a great variety but the Farmer’s Markets are amazing. I guess it all just varies by where you are.
to n.'s comment
Wow, $4.50 a bushel?! Maybe things are different in Ohio. Here in Massachusetts $3.00 a pound is pretty standard for heirloom tomatoes at the farmer’s market, and they don’t sell anything by the bushel, just by the pound (or occasionally by the “each” or “bunch”).
to Nate's comment
We do live a rural and semi-depressed county so maybe that’s why it’s so cheap.
to Susy's comment