Holy cow...sticker shock

[yewberry]

Dang, it used to be cheaper to eat veg!

Okay, so I don't eat a lot of prepared veg foods and analogues--they tend to be too "meat-like" for me. (Boca burgers, etc.) Pretty cheap way to eat, right? Uh, no. Check it out.

I was at PCC (Puget Consumers Co-op) recently and they were charging (gulp) $6.99/lb for on-the-vine tomatoes. Yes, they were organic, but $6.99? Yesterday at the (inaptly named) Thriftway, Rainier cherries (AKA Queen Anne cherries, the yellow and red ones) were $7.99/lb. Not organic, those. I'll be shopping exclusively at the produce stands in the International District from now on, thanks.

Then, I went to pick up some of that Near East rice pilaf. You know, the kind that I got two for a buck at Market Basket (in MA) last year? Ouch! $3.59 a box? Wha?

Yes, I know that gas prices are driving up the cost of food, but WTF?!

Is Seattle just completely out of whack, or are others seeing insane price increases too?

[flvegan]

1. Wow.

I haven't seen price increases like that, no. I've also recently just gotten a Whole Foods in the area, so I think the new competition is keeping my local prices artificially deflated.

That said, normal produce at say, Publix doesn't seem to have risen too much, but I've seen a bit of a rise (nowhere near what you're seeing, though).

[yewberry]

5. Whole Foods...keeping prices down?

Wow, that's not at all what happens here!

Enjoy it!

[flamingyouth]

2. The tomato prices are ridiculous

(I'm about ready to have a bumper crop of organic, on-the-vine ones, incidentally, if you are interested. :D)

Rainier cherry prices are pretty consistent with what most grocery stores around here are charging, I think. I guess they figure they can get away with them because people see them as a local treat (my fiance had never even heard of them before moving here and is now addicted to them). Most people probably aren't willing to drive down to the ID to shop (I am - after all, where else can you find fresh guavas and passion fruits?).

But yeah, food is way more expensive here than in other parts of the country. I was shocked by how much cheaper organic veggies and rice mixes, etc. were in Texas when I used to visit my fiance down there.

[CrispyQ]

4. You can send some of those tomatoes my way!!

;)

Over $3 for a box of Near East pilaf? :crazy: We pay under $2 a box. We live on their pilaf, lentil pilaf & Spanish rice. We have a local health food store that has very reasonable prices. Silk yogurt is 30¢ cheaper than the majors. That's a huge difference for a small container of yogurt!

We rarely see Rainer cherries. You have to be there when they put them out I beleive. :) I also have difficulty finding Yukon gold potatoes in this area.

[yewberry]

6. Yeah, the rainier cherries are irresistable.

They are selling for $1.99/lb in the ID, incidentally. I haven't checked McPherson's lately.

You're right; food is always more expensive here (you should've seen my mom's face the first time she went out to buy breakfast cereal here!) but the produce prices just seem crazy-expensive right now.

Hope the tomatoes are lovely!

[LeftyMom]

3. That is crazy high

I'm really spoiled by the food prices here, I know if I ever get my lazy ass around to moving I'm definitely going to be in for sticker shock.

[yewberry]

8. I KNEW it wasn't just my imagination!

Thanks for commiserating!

(How much do you think it would cost to ship a leek? :crazy:)

[Robeson]

7. Ooohh, I love tomatoes this time of year, and yes, you are....

...getting ripped on those prices. Our farmers market sells them for around $5 for 2 pounds. And those are heavy pounds. They always let the customer go over the 2 pounds, but still charge them the $5 rate.

[yewberry]

9. I'm beginning to see

some possibilities open up for an interstate tomato-smuggling ring.

Nashville is pretty far, though. Hm.

[LeftyMom]

10. No kidding.

They're maybe $2/lb (more like $1/lb for romas and tomatillos, about $2/lb for big slicing tomatoes) at most farmer's markets around here. I'm now trying to figure out how much I could make with a trunk full. A whole hell of a lot, I guess.

[laheina]

15. LOL!

On second thought...;)

[Hun Joro]

11. That's just outrageous!

I've been shopping at a local lean-to fruit stand where I've been getting home-grown tomatoes (not organic) for 79 cents a pound. I saw organic tomatoes at the grocery store for 2.99/lb.

I agree with others, that price for the ranier cherries is about normal here too - I never feel I can afford a treat like that, especially since they're always sold pre-bagged, so you can't just get a smaller amount.

One thing I've noticed around here lately is that organic apples have become scarce, and when I did find some the other day they were 3.99 a pound - that's up a dollar since the last time I bought them. I wondered if there isn't problem with the organic apple crop this year.

[yewberry]

12. Ohhh, apples

I live in WA--lots of apples grow here. It's the state's major crop. I don't think there's been any reason for price increases. The non-organic apples at the *ahem* Thriftway this week ranged between $1.79/lb and $2.99/lb.

I have no idea what is going on with prices!

[NMMNG]

13. I know what you mean

Cucumbers are 70 cents to $1 each around here. I haven't had tomatoes for a long time because the prices are just outrageous. I only buy strawberries and blueberries when they are on big discount such as BOGO (blueberries are especially expensive at about $3-4 a pint). Grapefruit are $1-1.50 apiece and oranges aren't far behind. It's crazy!

As to Near East products I can get them at the local Natural Foods market for about $2-3 or so a box depending on the particular variety. I love the rice pilaf and cous-cous.


The faux meats are very expensive in some places--nearly $4 a box for four burger or chick'n patties. :scared: But I love them and they are easy to make in a rush so I get them.

When I'm really pressed for money I just rely mainly on frozen veggies, canned beans and whatever fresh stuff is on sale in a particular week. One has to do what one has to do.

[CountAllVotes]

14. prices are way up here too

What I do is buy items when they are on sale. I don't just mean a few of said items, I mean a case or more.

I just bought 5 cases of organic lemonade for $12.00 a case.

I also have a ton of organic pancake mix that I bought a few months ago when on sale for $1.99 with a .75 cent coupon (so $1.25 for a two pound package).

Instead of the expensive mixes in the boxes I have a huge amount of organic basmati rice and I season it in different ways.

Main plan: stock up when things are on sale if you can.