Food Shopping & Grocery Stores in ABQ (Albuquerque: 2013, legal)

[nmguy]

During the warm-hot months, I do most of my produce shopping at the Corrales and Albuquerque growers markets. They're more expensive, but those carrots, tomatillos, tomatoes, etc., sure taste good. By going to these two places, I feel like I'm contributing to the local economy.

Paul

[lobo]

For dry goods I shop at Wal-mart with weekly grocery ads in hand from Smith's, Albertson's, and Sunflower Market. Wal-mart will price match if you have the ads with you. Many checkers will price match even if you don't have the ads with you, but you know the prices. Many of the checkers already know the good sale prices anyway.

For meats and vegetables I shop at Smith's, Sunflower, and Costco. Albertson's is more expensive overall. Aside from a few "get you in the door" items (that can be price-matched at Wal-mart), their sale prices on most foods still costs more than the everyday prices at Wal-mart.

[9cups]

It's already been said, but Keller's for meat. Wal Mart is probably the cheapest for dry goods. Trader Joe's has good produce and reasonable prices. A unique option for regionally grown produce is Los Poblanos Organics (you can do a google search). La Montanita Co-op also has good produce, and the prices are reasonable if you shop there a lot and become a member. I have always been underwhelmed by the quality of food at Sunflower (their prices are good though). Pros market has impressive produce, meat, and tortilla selections.

[ABQConvict]

What I like about the produce at La Montanita co-op is that they clearly label the origin of the food. It is nice to sit down for a meal and know that my tomatoes were grown in Bernardo, the mushrooms came from Edgewood, and the potatoes grew in Salida, CO.

It is more expensive, but a fair price for food that is extremely fresh and from farms that employ local New Mexicans, not exploited illegals.

[thelazyone]

Does ABQ have anything similar to Wegmans?

[karmathecat]

Originally Posted by thelazyone

Does ABQ have anything similar to Wegmans?

The closest is Whole Foods, but it's not the same.

[lobo]

Originally Posted by thelazyone

Does ABQ have anything similar to Wegmans?

Unfortunately, the answer is no.

[jesusitadelnorte]

I'm suprised nobody has mentioned Pros Ranch Market on West Central. For those living in Downtown/Old Town it's the closest thing you have beside Lowes, but it's a lot bigger. Although it's a chain, it has a lot of products that you would expect to find from a specialty latin grocer in addition to staples and variety. Really it's worth a trip out of your comfort zone. Less intimidating than a real carniceria, yet with all the bells and whistles that make it worthy of recommending to your hoity toity friends.

[Alinka]

At Albertson's today the friendly check out woman asked if I was playing Monopoly. Collecting rather than playing was my response. (I shop there regularly and have never won even $2.)

I mentioned that I would rather have a system like Smith's (even though I hate to have to have a card to shop) and she said that part of the agreement with the Albertson's stores that were turned over from Raley's is that they would never have card requirement.

Can't some supermarket system have a simple reward program that does not require a card?

I have never even been to a Smith's but that reward system is tempting.

Wegmans- in my dreams.

[jesusitadelnorte]

I would like to mention that a food box from Los Poblanos is not necessarily from LOCAL farmers. That is what I have heard from more than one disappointed consumer. I recently had a box of fresh produce delivered to my house here in Kansas City from Door to Door Organics. A lot of their produce comes from Colorado, and, seriously, do you think that avocado is local produce? For best quality you need to do the work yourself and go to the Famers Market. I whole heartedly endorse Amayo Farms out of Bosque Farms. Great variety and available at the both the Downtown and Nob Hill growers market.