Is it possible to Buy Local, Buy Organic, on a budget?

[nosmokes]

original-Farm Aid

Is it possible to shop locally on a budget?
Thursday, October 19, 2006

Ask Laura - October 2006

Dear Laura,
I am starting to get the concept of buying direct from local family farmers and keeping my money in my community but I am worried that I can't afford it. Is it possible to shop locally on a budget?

Darleen McCoggins
Henderson, TN
----------------------------

Hi Darleen,
Good question! In fact, for a lot of people this is the question. "I want to do the right thing and buy good, fresh food but can I afford food from family farms?" At Farm Aid, we hear this question all the time: "Is the Good Food Movement" an elitist notion?

[JuniperLea]

1. Even Los Angeles and neighboring cities have "Farmer's Market"

They are all over the place. Local CA growers selling their organic fruits and veggies. Trader Joe's buys from local growers too, so if you can't find it at a Farmer's Market, go to TJ's... and you will save a ton of money too! Organic only means more money when you buy at a large grocery chain store.

[brook]

3. Another benefit

in shopping at Farmer's Markets (or Farm Stands in some parts of the country) is that you can buy single items such as tomato/potato/apple, etc. instead of a pre-packaged selection. As a single person, I find I can eat better for less shopping this way.

[Tunkamerica]

5. I don't think Trader Joe's

...has made it over here yet. And organic produce at a farmer's market is not a given. The food's not regulated so you'd have to take the grower's word.

[JuniperLea]

16. At lot of the growers are certified

And you can check the certificate number with FDA rolls. It's a big feather in their cap (rightfully so) to earn this certificate, so they display it proudly.

[leftofthedial]

2. it is possible IF...

you're budget is enormous

or you only eat three days a week

our local farmer's markets have some excellent produce, but they cost even more than Whole Paycheck (Whole Foods), which costs more than the corporate grocery store.

[LostinVA]

4. Our local farmers'' market is way cheaper than Whole Foods

And Whole Foods is cheaper than either Giant or Harris Teeter re: produce and dairy, along with some other stuff.

[MediumBrownDog]

7. Our farmers' markets are far cheaper than any grocery store.

But I'm in Virginia, and while I've lived other places, I've always found produce around here to be very, very reasonable.

[Carni]

20. You guys need to clue me in on where to go

I just ranted to lost in VA about this lol

[nosmokes]

23. to find a farmer's market or CSA

click the link in my sig line and follow the prompts for finding orgamics. local harvest is a good one but many states have more detailed and up to date sites of their own.

[Carni]

25. Hell anything --

I am not picky I just want cheap fresh produce lol

[leftofthedial]

8. it's a miracle!

[LostinVA]

10. What is? It's true

[leftofthedial]

12. that's great! I don't doubt you a bit.

I've found great farmer's markets in other places that were great bargains.

My experience here is the opposite.

Whole Foods usually has a few items that are a great bargain, but overall it is 15% to 25% higher than Safeway or King Soopers or Albertsons. I love the place, but I simply can't afford to shop there.

Farmer's markets can be cheap if you drive into the country. If you go to the urban farmer's markets, their prices seem geared to the yuppies. Again, you can sometimes find a bargain on a few particular items and you usually get better quality for local big crops, but if you went there to buy all your produce, you'd pay anywhere from 20% to 50% more than the grocery store.

Whole Foods and farmer's markets definitely have great items you can't get in the grocery store.

[nosmokes]

18. look into CSA. that really makes a difference price wise and the only

way to get fresher produce is by growing it yourself. and it's convenient. you simply pick up a box once a week with your veggies. saves you from wandering the grocery store and buying impulse items and having to fight for parking anat. and you'll end up with veggies yoiu normally wouldn't buy for yourself, and you get to know who grows your food. it's a win/win all the way around. check out the link in my sig line for a CSA near you or ask at your farmer's market.

[leftofthedial]

21. thanks for the great link!

and the advice.

I just got back from the grocery store. $10 of what I needed. $27 of crap that just looked good . . .

[Carni]

19. Hey lost

I am now in VA (WAY out in the sticks we don't even have Harris Teeter)

I am going through HEAVY withdrawal ACK!

We used to spend about 20 bucks a week on all the produce we could hope to consume in a weeks time in the metro Detroit area (Eastern market) but now being confined to GIANT and Food Lion is not getting it! Not only is it expensive as hell the produce isn't that spiffy.

All of the stands I have been able to find have the so called Amish vegetables and they also seem rather pricey and not that fresh.

You know I would have thought being in farm country I would have had farm fresh options but I guess I am not looking in the right places :(

Know of any GOOD farm markets that aren't tourist traps in like the Winchester area??

I won't even get into my rant about how I miss my middle eastern and Italian markets! (not to mention not being able to buy my beloved maytag blue cheese)

[LostinVA]

22. I think there's one up your way

I have a coworker whose daughter lives there -- let me check.

The Mennonite produce is often NOT cheaper!!!

Not even a Harris Teeter??? OMG!

You need to move down by CHarlottesville or Richmond.... Charlottesville has a Whole Foods, which I know sells Maytag. There's probably one closer your way, too...

[Carni]

24. I would appreciate any info lol

I feel like I have been thrown into a void!

I am a city type of a person and this ain't the city (ACK!)

Not to bash Virginia because visually it is lovely but the driving ten miles just to get to a store and the lack of fresh food choices is wearing me down!
(and don't get me going on these ABC stores lol)

[LostinVA]

26. It's all according where you live

Parts of VA are TOO urban.

[Carni]

28. I am in Warren County

Out in the sticks -- like 10 miles from the northern entrance to skyline drive.

[MrCoffee]

6. our farmer's market is waaay cheaper than any grocery store.

[Bridget Burke]

9. You didn't follow the link, did you?

It included some hints about buying local produce on the cheap. Cooperation with other buyers is the key.

I remember an article by Willie Nelson (maybe) in which he suggested that everyone make ONE commitment to sustainable farming. That is, find a source for local eggs. Or milk. Whatever...

Just because you can't be 100% pure (I sure can't), there's no reason to give up & buy everything from WalMart.

[DBoon]

14. Find or maybe start a food co-op

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooperative

and

http://www.ncba.coop/abcoop_food.cfm

Cooperative buying clubs or preorder co-ops are typically informal groups organized to buy directly from a wholesaler and save substantially on groceries. Group members order in bulk and divide their order among themselves. Each person also volunteers time towards the task of ordering, bookkeeping and distribution. Cooperative buying clubs may be organized to obtain common grocery items or special types of products such as produce, natural foods or canned goods.

And starting a neighborhood buying cooperative is a first step towards politically organizing your neighbors.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

11. The secret is learning to cook from scratch

Stock up on long-lasting basics, like flour, sugar, cooking oil, pasta, rice, cooking sauces, spices, and a few canned goods.

Then buy fresh produce, eggs, dairy products, tofu, and, if you are so inclined, cheaper cuts of meat or a large hunk of meat or whole chicken that you chop up yourself.

You can always make a big stir fry or soup with veggies, onions or scallions, and a protein source and freeze the leftovers into serving-size containers. Pasta with steamed veggies and the sauce of your choice is cheap, quick, and nutritious.

Processed stuff is more expensive per serving than what you make yourself.

It's a trade-off between time and money.

[RaleighNCDUer]

13. And if the time spent would only otherwise be spent in front of the

TV, it is an excellent trade off.

Or you could put a TV in the kitchen, and have no excuse.

[DBoon]

15. grow your own

Salad greens are easy to grow in a pot by a kitchen window.

Other items like tomatoes are easy to grow on a balcony

[spinbaby]

17. See if you can find a bulk foods store

I don't know if you have them in your part of the country, but here in Pennsylvania we have bulk food stores, usually run by Mennonites or Amish. Although they do stock a lot of junk like candy, they also have a fair percentage of whole-grain flour, nuts, and such. They also sell locally produced eggs, butter, and honey. The prices tend to be very good at the bulk stores and it's refreshing to shop in a no-advertising zone.

[warrens]

27. My recommendations

Safeway and its other chains have very good organic stuff called "O" that is as good as Whole Foods, etc. and a lot cheaper. Buy lesser-known cuts of meat, such as butt steak, etc., because you'll get a few bucks off per pound. Eat small meat portions and use small servings of cheaper stuff to get more variety. It's just as satisfying. I found some organic tempura sauce that I dilute with a bit of water and use as a dip for just about everything. It's not THAT expensive, it's just hard to find a lot of organic products so you can cook cheaper dishes. But prices are going down, except on meat, and more land is being certified so even organic meat should be more affordable soon.

However, organic is pretty overrated. Knowing where your food came from is more important.