Do you get frustrated...

[Nayan]

When grocery shopping? This week my store has London Broil on sale for $3.99/lb. I found a nice small one and planned to make Steak Salad for dinner. When I went to the produce dept. I got so frustrated I put my steak back. They had tiny bundles of wilted lettuce for $1.99 and the bagged salads were already rotten . So I spent almost $100 this week for really not much grocery-wise so I told my DH he better like chicken a whole lot this week because that's all we're having.

 

[Derby4me]

Have you thought about an agricultural share? This is my first year doing it, and I really like it! At the beginning of the year you pay a flat fee (I think ours averaged out to be about $20 per week) and each week you pick up a bag of the most freshly picked fruit and vegi's you will ever eat. It's a great way to push the vegi's and to limit your grocery shopping. Just an idea.

 

[clintswifeymomof4]

This happens a lot in my area as most people here are not health focused and eat processed boxed crap nonstop. We prefer fresh produce and lean meats...

I often buy my meats from the grocery store and go to a produce stand/store that only sells produce for the other stuff.

If I'm not able to do that, then I just buy a few of 1 item and have to make return trips several times a week.

Our Walmart is disasterous and their plums are always soft and bad, the strawberries already have mold on them... it is just disgusting and that's why I don't shop at Walmart.

My Super Target is much better but I still fare better at a produce stand and it's locally grown which is a double plus.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I don't shop at Walmart or Aldi's at all for produce in my area. I live in a small town and when I shop at Food Lion one of the produce associates will get fresh produce out for me if what they have out doesn't look good. They have even offered to do it when they've seen me look over some strawberries and not buy any. They're more expensive, but it's better than wasting money on produce that I would have to throw away anyway.

 

[ellone]

This summer for produce I've been buying lots at the local farmer's market. There are some farmers that don't spray their produce and sell them for very good prices.

 

[SaraJayne]

I love our grocery store. It's Festival Foods. I think they're only in WI.

 

[LilyWDW]

I love my grocery store. All the meat and produce are fresh and much of the produce is local. They also have a great selection of just about everything else.

 

[PrincessMama605]

I know how you feel, I have noticed when I shop that sometimes the bagged salads already look pretty bad, esp. when they are *on sale*. Usually the heads of regular lettuce don't look much better either.

Don't let that discourage you from making salads though- I usually buy the prewashed salad that comes in a clear plastic box. Publix and Walmart both have it (different brands). It might cost a little bit more but its actually a better deal since the box is a little bit bigger than most bags and it stays fresher days longer in the box.

 

[gillenkl]

I'm more frustrated over price than quality at my stores. I started going to my amish farmers market once a week - previously a huge head of romaine lettuce was $1.75 - this week it went up to $2.00 - still cheaper than my grocery store but the price is slowly creeping up.

 

[woodkins]

Why not buy the meat when it is on sale and freeze it and then defrost when they have good sales on produce to coordinate?

 

[Sandy61]

Why not buy the meat when it is on sale and freeze it and then defrost when they have good sales on produce to coordinate?

I do this with almost all my meat. I asked on these boards how to keep it from getting freezer burn and am doing better with it. I try to buy enough meat to have leftovers the next day. A roast one day and roast beef sandwiches the next or put it in a skillet with a bag of oriental veggies and sauce. Same way with chicken...a whole roasted chicken one day and chicken fajitas the next.

I stock up on sales and try to use coupons with sale items. I have a fairly big pantry and can fill it enough until the item is on sale again. For instance I bought 6 jars of Welch's grape jelly for .99 each which will last a long time.

My Walmart has the worst produce I have ever seen. It is regularly filled with stuff I just can't buy because it already looks too bad to eat. And it is regular price not marked down!

I have been buying heads of leaf lettuce and then cleaning it all at once and storing it in my fridge in a salad spinner. I think the extra air around the inside holder keeps it fresh for a week!!!

 

[Nayan]

I try to buy what I can when it's on sale, but I have a very small freezer and my DH has said no to a stand-alone one, so I can only put so much in there. I will try my salad idea again later this week when they stock more produce and hope for the best.

 

[sydneysmom]

I refuse to buy produce or meat from our Wal-Mart. the produce dept smells like mold as soon as you walk in. We're lucky, our Kroger has a wonderful produce and meat dept..... but we also have The Fresh Market, which is SPECTACULAR!!!! If we want beautiful produce and meat, it's off to the Fresh Market. (for the 'normal stuff', Kroger is just great)

 

[LilyWDW]

I refuse to buy produce or meat from our Wal-Mart. the produce dept smells like mold as soon as you walk in. We're lucky, our Kroger has a wonderful produce and meat dept..... but we also have The Fresh Market, which is SPECTACULAR!!!! If we want beautiful produce and meat, it's off to the Fresh Market. (for the 'normal stuff', Kroger is just great)

OT a bit, but we are getting a Fresh Market at the end of the year. How are the costs compared to Kroger (so I can compare a store I know to it lol)? Anything else that makes it really stand out? Thanks!

 

[happymommy]

I started to get frustrated when my son turned 14, and went from not eating much to eating me out of house and home. I went to a coupon website (I did thekrazycouponlady.com) and started to get more organized with staples - and I even learned how to get some (not always but many times) coupons for things like bagged salads. Plus sometimes with overages (coupons being more than sale price) I apply that to meats and veggies.

Good luck!!

 

[redlawyer]

We have three Fresh Markets in Richmond and they are wonderful. The meat dept has a real butcher who knows his stuff. Their pastries are delicious and the produce is impeccable. Yes, it costs more then Kroger or Martins and you can't get all of your shopping done there. But the food is wonderful and they have outstanding customer service.

 

[sydneysmom]

OT a bit, but we are getting a Fresh Market at the end of the year. How are the costs compared to Kroger (so I can compare a store I know to it lol)? Anything else that makes it really stand out? Thanks!

to be honest, if you shop their specialty items such as the meat department and produce / bakery, the prices are more than competitive. The best thing you can do is sign up for their emails on the website. Each Tuesday you'll get the sales that start on Wednesday.... now, you don't want to do normal "food shopping" there. that kind of stuff, stick to your grocery store. but they run specials on gallons of milk, meat, veggies and fruit that are way better than our Kroger. You just have to shop smart.

My husband always jokes that we can't get out of there for under $100. Once we're in there, we find a ton that we "can't live without". it's a feast for the eyes ! Oh, their seafood department is AMAZING !! they've got coconut crusted shrimp w /a mango pepper dipping sauce that's to die for. And tilapia stuffed w/ shrimp and lobster. We get one pack of the shrimp and 1 piece of the stuffed tilapia for dinner and split it. Very reasonable. When you walk in there the first time, you're going to just be in awe of how many spectacular things there are. (they have their own sushi station and the deli is all home made salads ) Oh, and in the florist, you can treat yourself to a dozen roses for usually $ 8.99 / dozen !! It's wonderful !!

They also are known for their fun "retro candy"....each holiday they do wonderful displays of candy for that holiday.... most of the candy is candy that we had growing up. It's wonderful nostalgia. You're going to have the time of your life shopping there !! (can you tell, I'm a MAJOR fan!!)

The butcher department is superb. They're always running specials on meat and will cut to order. (and they KNOW what they're doing) For example, at Christmas they'll run standing rib roast for $6.99 / lb. In the summer they'll do ribs for $3.99 / lb and beef tenderloin for $ 9.99 / lb. but it's nothing like the beef in the supermarket. it's far superior. We love their turkey and chicken sausage. there's about 5/6 different flavors of each and they're terrific. (they're, I think, $ 4.99 / lb) the bakery has THE worlds best chocolate bar cake. (remember this cake....and get one!!! you'll thank me later) their cupcakes are just heavenly. pretty much everything is.

Sorry, I could go on forever !!! it's a love affair !!

 

[LilyWDW]

Thank you, both of you, for the information! OMG, I am really excited about this place opening up now. I wouldn't want to use it for my everyday shopping since it would be about 20 minutes away and I have a nice grocery 5 minutes away... but sometimes you have to treat yourself!

The specials prices do not see that much higher (if any) then my local grocery and I like the idea of a real butcher... and cut to order? *swoon* My grocery will do it and they will do it with a smile, but sometimes it is not the best. I mean, the meat and cuts are nice, but nothing special, kwim? I will defiantly be there during Christmas for that standing rib roast. Mom would kill me if I didn't get one this Christmas!

The retro candy sounds SO much fun! I can't wait to see that!

And the shrimp and tilapia... YUM! I love coconut shrimp!

It sounds like this is somewhere I will LOVE... I can do my normal shopping at my store and then take advantage of Fresh Market for the specials and for special occasions!

Thank you again for the info!

I went ahead and signed up for the information now as there is one in Asheville, NC. It will let me get a feel for things... and maybe I will even try to talk a friend into going out there with me sometime!

We have three Fresh Markets in Richmond and they are wonderful. The meat dept has a real butcher who knows his stuff. Their pastries are delicious and the produce is impeccable. Yes, it costs more then Kroger or Martins and you can't get all of your shopping done there. But the food is wonderful and they have outstanding customer service.

to be honest, if you shop their specialty items such as the meat department and produce / bakery, the prices are more than competitive. The best thing you can do is sign up for their emails on the website. Each Tuesday you'll get the sales that start on Wednesday.... now, you don't want to do normal "food shopping" there. that kind of stuff, stick to your grocery store. but they run specials on gallons of milk, meat, veggies and fruit that are way better than our Kroger. You just have to shop smart.

My husband always jokes that we can't get out of there for under $100. Once we're in there, we find a ton that we "can't live without". it's a feast for the eyes ! Oh, their seafood department is AMAZING !! they've got coconut crusted shrimp w /a mango pepper dipping sauce that's to die for. And tilapia stuffed w/ shrimp and lobster. We get one pack of the shrimp and 1 piece of the stuffed tilapia for dinner and split it. Very reasonable. When you walk in there the first time, you're going to just be in awe of how many spectacular things there are. (they have their own sushi station and the deli is all home made salads ) Oh, and in the florist, you can treat yourself to a dozen roses for usually $ 8.99 / dozen !! It's wonderful !!

They also are known for their fun "retro candy"....each holiday they do wonderful displays of candy for that holiday.... most of the candy is candy that we had growing up. It's wonderful nostalgia. You're going to have the time of your life shopping there !! (can you tell, I'm a MAJOR fan!!)

The butcher department is superb. They're always running specials on meat and will cut to order. (and they KNOW what they're doing) For example, at Christmas they'll run standing rib roast for $6.99 / lb. In the summer they'll do ribs for $3.99 / lb and beef tenderloin for $ 9.99 / lb. but it's nothing like the beef in the supermarket. it's far superior. We love their turkey and chicken sausage. there's about 5/6 different flavors of each and they're terrific. (they're, I think, $ 4.99 / lb) the bakery has THE worlds best chocolate bar cake. (remember this cake....and get one!!! you'll thank me later) their cupcakes are just heavenly. pretty much everything is.

Sorry, I could go on forever !!! it's a love affair !!

 

[Sagginit]

thats a huge pet peeve of mine. the bags of greens/spinach never last so i buy the box of organic. its worth it as they last much longer but my foodstore has a slow turnover rate and they don't seem to mark down the boxes. so i can go and all the lettuce is already half rotten with half a day left and thats all they have out. in that case i will suck it up with a bag of romaine/iceburg as they seem to hold up better than the greens in a bag.

the price of the box just keeps creeping up on me. i go thru at least one a week with my work lunches and they other day i realized i was paying almost $5 a box now.