How much are Mainers paying for groceries? (prices, eat)

[Boomerang]

I'm a dedicated comparison-shopper and try to plan a regular route of all my favorite money-saving places every few weeks or so. Close to home I go to Hannaford's and WalMart most of the time. I lean towards organic, vegetarian, healthy stuff, but do buy good-quality poultry and eggs every so often. I can't afford the pricey "health food" places, except for raw herbs once in awhile.

Since I have to travel south nearly every week, I've gotten into the habit of packing along a cooler and bring back some great bargains from Stop N'Shop and Trader Joe's. Before I went to a Trader's I thought it must be some gimmicky, expensive granola store. To my surprise, they carry a great many wonderful grocery items at FABULOUS prices! Like, a pound of raw almonds for less than $6, and a giant jar of low-sugar blueberry jam for about $2.69 I think.
They carry all kinds of stuff from all over the world.

You can look up Trader Joe's online and email them to suggest a new location. I've been begging them to open a new store somewhere in the midcoast area but so far, no luck.

If you enjoy natural foods or just good groceries for low prices, you might want to email them also.
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Nobody asked about beverages (?) but Yankee Liquors in MA is way cheaper than the NH or ME agency stores.

[Maine Writer]

It's shrimp season now. My husband's brother's been out for the last week. He scalloped before that.

Blueberry's good too. Apricot's my favorite.

[AliceT]

And for folks like me, slip into Canada and stock up on canned goods. Often their offbrand soups are 3 for a buck. Same size can as the average can of Campbell's. Can't beat it.

Never pass a Dollar Store without seeing what they have in canned goods. Cans of tuna are 60 cents and canned salmon is maybe a buck - but it's a really good size can and that stuff makes an awesome sandwich when prepared similarly to tuna. Canned hams are usually $2 or $2.50. If you drink sodas, you'll never find less expensive ones than at the Dollar Stores.

You'll pay less there for shampoo, laundry detergent, personal care items, canned items, hard candies and cookies. The canned cheese is less there than anywhere else. Prices vary from store to store and state to state. Never pass one without taking a look.

Only word of caution is don't buy toys there. I don't think anyone polices the recalled items.

[Zymer]

Canned cheese? Somehow, that seems just...wrong.

[msina]

Originally Posted by Zymer

Canned cheese? Somehow, that seems just...wrong.

Everything looks better when it sits on a Ritz!

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by Zymer

Canned cheese? Somehow, that seems just...wrong.

Originally Posted by msina

Everything looks better when it sits on a Ritz!

Only if you top it off with a piece of pepperoni and heat it up a bit.

[mainer2]

Sadly we're almost out of frozen apples and applesauce, next year I'll do at least 3 bushels. [/quote]


Frozen apples....that's a new one for me....do u peel em....slice em?

[msina]

Peel, core and slice apples into salted water,.. drain and put in freezer bags. I usually have apples for baking (pies etc.) all winter.

[Elcarim]

I can't imagine having such overstock of apples to have any to freeze! We go through 6# a week - each 3# bag was $3.29 this week. My kids LOVE apples. I guess I need to look for some property with an apple tree or a nice neighbor with one!

[msina]

El, I just go to the orchard in the fall and pick my own. Kids love apple picking, many places have hay rides and differant things going on during the season.