Just saw an article on the high cost of berries, do you partake?

[amcnj]

I have had blueberry, strawberry, figs and raspberry plants in the yard at various times. Mostly I came to view them as wildlife feeders, as there was a fierce competition between us to get the fruit. I had the most luck with figs as the trees got so big and had so much fruit that there was enough for all of us!

 

[Meriweather]

I buy mostly strawberries.....all season long.
I just got 2 pound package for $2.99. It has been that for a couple of weeks. When my regular grocery store isn't doing that price I get them at Costco or Sam's
I buy blueberries when on sale and freeze them to use in baking and pancakes.

 

[ItsOnlyMoney]

Strawberries and blueberries are currently $5 for a two pound container, what are they where you live?
Your article is behind a paywall so no idea what it says.
Both berries are $2.99 each for a one pound container.

fresh native Strawberries here in Connecticut are $10 a quart (don't know off hand how much imported berries are but they don't taste as good) I only purchase them if I really want strawberry shortcake. I grow my own blueberries and can freeze enough to last through the year. (However, it cost a mint to make a blueberry cage that the chipmunks can't get through.)

 

[ItsOnlyMoney]

I have had blueberry, strawberry, figs and raspberry plants in the yard at various times. Mostly I came to view them as wildlife feeders, as there was a fierce competition between us to get the fruit. I had the most luck with figs as the trees got so big and had so much fruit that there was enough for all of us!

> view them as wildlife feeders,
this...

 

[lanejudy]

In general, I observed the cost of food in Massachusetts to run about 30% higher than in Pennsylvania when we were traveling between the two homes.

Keep in mind that berry season may start later in MA vs PA. Our fresh local berries are just coming to market now. While prices are higher than prior years, it’s in line with other food prices increases here. $8 for blueberries seems high and not likely to be local.

People who live in shared communities don't have private green space to grow things they would eat.

Do you have a patio or balcony? You can do a potted garden. Or maybe there is a local community garden where you can request a patch. Our local elementary school offers garden patches to community members.

 

[TippyThomas]

I buy mine from local growers in season and just use frozen out of season.

 

[Southernmiss]

I bought berries here yesterday. 1 pound strawberries $2.32 1 pint blueberries $2.97 not bad at all.

Blueberries are in season here now. I may receive free blueberries from people I know.

 

[barkley]

I think berries are pretty easy to grow. I can remember picking wild blackberries when I was a kid. If you think the cost is two high, try growing your own.

so many of the fields around where I grew up were filled with blackberry bushes that they were almost looked at as an invasive weed. I never knew anyone that bought the berries b/c they just braved the thorns and picked their own.

I have had blueberry, strawberry, figs and raspberry plants in the yard at various times. Mostly I came to view them as wildlife feeders, as there was a fierce competition between us to get the fruit. I had the most luck with figs as the trees got so big and had so much fruit that there was enough for all of us!

with the strawberries we've found that the birds eat them and as a result of relieving themselves in other areas of the yard they pass the seeds that result in new plantings that sprout up the following years.

Do you have a patio or balcony? You can do a potted garden.

it's pretty amazing what you can do in a small space. I replaced the flowers I had in pots on my patio with herbs, a neighbor does herbs and tomatoes, this year one of the garden centers was selling flower sized planters (the size you would usually see someone hang from a hook on a patio) but filled with a variety of lettuces-we got one and it's amazing how much it produces and reproduces.

 

[lanejudy]

it's pretty amazing what you can do in a small space. I replaced the flowers I had in pots on my patio with herbs, a neighbor does herbs and tomatoes, this year one of the garden centers was selling flower sized planters (the size you would usually see someone hang from a hook on a patio) but filled with a variety of lettuces-we got one and it's amazing how much it produces and reproduces.

Yes! I’ve grown tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers and pole beans on the back deck. My favorite was a hanging pot with cherry tomatoes - that thing was amazing!

 

[KBadger]

I buy berries locally at the farmers market!

 

[bobbiwoz]

This spring NJ strawberries were $8-10 a quart, but we bought them, they taste better to us than the ones in the store plastic containers.

NJ blueberries are just ripening. They are our favorite berries. Our family went to pick them locally, I don’t know what they cost.

We buy berries and bananas year round to enjoy with yogurt every morning.

 

[Christine]

Back from the store today--the Jumbo blueberries I like are still $7.99 and only in one store. Other blueberries seemed priced okay but not the same as last year. Alternatively, blackberries and raspberries looked great and seemed very inexpensive (normal priced for this time of year).

 

[DCL58]

Blueberries, blackberries and strawberries always seem to be around the same price at Costco - that is where I buy when we want some.

 

[firefly_ris]

I paid a little over $2 for a container of strawberries at Aldi the other day, and about $3 for a pint of blueberries. They are a little more expensive in the off-season but not dramatically so.

They are at least double that price for the same size containers at our local grocery chain Tops, and worse in the off-season if I recall.

 

[China Expat]

I buy berries every week. When I lived in Beijing, I once tossed a box of yellow cherries in my basket. I was shocked when they rang up as $45 US dollars for a small basket!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Praying Colonel]

Bought 2 lbs of strawberries yesterday at Costco for $5.99.

 

[tasha99]

We buy some kind of berry most days. Strawberries are in season locally, so I can buy a little box for $4.50 at a local farm that are outstanding. Normally it's about $3 at the grocery store, but they are fairly mediocre. We still buy them though.