Question about food prices in Austin (Houston, Mart: apartments, to rent, houses)

[ITChick]

jhwest, I think I heard a financial analyst mention that same thing your friend who works at Dreyers Ice Cream said about corn. It sure explains those high milk prices.

jco, I buy a lot of produce too. I'm not into organic as much as the quality of the produce itself. I will have to take a second look at Whole Foods as they have several locations where I'm at now. I just feel sometimes I'm overpaying when I shop there, even though the staff are nice and they have a great variety. No offense meant to anyone who likes shopping there!

Neddy, interesting point about HEB Mexico and the organic produce. I never thought to care about where my produce was being imported from. I just assumed most of our out of season fruits (and some in season) were all from out of the country regardless. I guess it really does matter to some.

S6Sputnik, no problem.

[love roses]

We find the food costs lower here than they were in Colorado.

[Trainwreck20]

Okay, I think I am going to the grocery store today, so I will try to get some prices, just for comparison. How about a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread? Maybe some produce..hmmm...maybe check out the bananas and oranges. Seems generic enough, probably Dole or Chaquita bananas everywhere, right? . Having lived here for forever and a day, I have no idea what food costs elsewhere, except when I visit my friends in Dillon, CO, and that is a tourist priced town. My friend actually drives in the Denver to shop.....

[mark311]

HEB is cheaper on just about everything compared to California grocery stores. I notice the largest price differences on frozen dinners (Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine), pre-packaged cheese, and Progresso soups. Other things are much cheaper as well.

There are very few Walmarts and Targets with grocery stores in them in California, so the pricing is similar to Randall's in Austin. Randall's is under the same ownership as Safeway and Von's so a "Randall's" type store along with its prices is what you normally see in California.

[love roses]

One thing I liked about Denver grocery stores as opposed to H.E.B nowadays is that they got nearly all of their produce from local growers. They would post a small little bio as well. Some of the farms they bought from also sold things at the Farmers Markets in town. H.E.B says they buy local, but nearly everything in there is from Mexico and South America.

[johncronejr]

Ya'll need to grocery shop in Arkansas, then check out Austin. Arkansas has horrible produce most of the time and its high.

My wife and I loved Central Market and Fiesta. When we move back to Austin in April we will be EXTREMELY HAPPY to get back to those stores.

[xsloane]

Most of the food is more expensive here than in the Seattle area. We buy a lot of produce and dairy, not much meat though. I couldn't believe how much HEB had raised their prices for their cheese a couple days ago: The charge now almos $8 for their cheapest 2lb block of cheese!! Bananas are cheaper here though
Oh, yes, I agree that the quality of produce in HEB is awful... And when you complain they either ignore you or tell you that's how the whatever is supposed to look!! Pleease, who do they think they are fooling!

[love roses]

My neighbor goes to Arkansas several times a year to visit her parents and she said that she was surprised by how much things are costing there.

[ITChick]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Okay, I think I am going to the grocery store today, so I will try to get some prices, just for comparison. How about a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread? Maybe some produce..hmmm...maybe check out the bananas and oranges. Seems generic enough, probably Dole or Chaquita bananas everywhere, right? . Having lived here for forever and a day, I have no idea what food costs elsewhere, except when I visit my friends in Dillon, CO, and that is a tourist priced town. My friend actually drives in the Denver to shop.....

I think what made my traveling buddy comment on the prices was when he saw that he couldn't get any apples in Austin under a $1.50/lb. We are lucky to be surrounded where we currently live by affordable fruit markets but the costs are starting to go up here too.

[ITChick]

Originally Posted by mark311

There are very few Walmarts and Targets with grocery stores in them in California, so the pricing is similar to Randall's in Austin. Randall's is under the same ownership as Safeway and Von's so a "Randall's" type store along with its prices is what you normally see in California.

So, I could equate Randalls to Dominicks (Safeway) here in Chicago, which is what I felt it was like in Phoenix.

Well, I know which grocery to avoid now.

HEB did have some really nice and tasty Fuji apples though. They were worth the almost $2.00/lb. I didn't check the country of origin though. Maybe I should start?