where do you buy your food (Vancouver: buying, prices, shop)

[silibran]

Originally Posted by hamellr

Sorry to quote myself, but New Seasons came in as the second best place to buy fish in the 2012 Reader Survey at the Portland Food and Drink blog.

I will definitely check out New Seasons, and I am glad there is one in Vancouver.

[silibran]

Thanks for the guidance on stores. I'll put Safeway at the bottom of my list to check out. I will check out Fred Meyer on Mill Plain for sure. You guys are quite helpful in this area. Both of us eat healthy. Not too much fat for DH and very little carb for me.

Hey are the peaches in yet from OR or WA? I've just been eating MO peaches probably for the last time in my life. Nothing like a locally grown peach.

[StealthRabbit]

Peaches are early August. Gonna have to wait a bit. They can come earlier in Eastern WA (more heat). Local peaches can be great, but they are tough to grow on the we_tside.

Keep you eyes open at Famer's Market and local "Grower's Guide"
WSU Clark County Extension

Also for markets in Willamette Valley. There are also some peach growers SW of Portland (Newberg / Dundee / McMinnville)

[silibran]

OK. Don't cherries come in fairly quickly around Mt. Hood?

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by silibran

OK. Don't cherries come in fairly quickly around Mt. Hood?

Yes, we're at the tail end of Cherry season. You can still find a some if you search the farmer's markets, but I'd expect this to be close to the last week.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by hamellr

Yes, we're at the tail end of Cherry season. You can still find a some if you search the farmer's markets, but I'd expect this to be close to the last week.

Actually I was working with a bunch of cherries growers today (28 Jun) in The Dalles and Hood River, They just started 'prime' (retail / shelf ready) picking this week and will continue through mid-august.

You can usually get some 'seconds' at good price @ Gateway Produce (Vancouver) throughout the season.
Chuck's and other groceries should have plenty of first quality cherries.


REMEMBER... if you eat 'home-grown' cherries NEVER eat just 1/2 a cherry. (If it makes you queasy to see 1/2 a worm in the remaining 1/2). Eating the WHOLE thing in one bite is much more appetizing.

East side / commercial cherries seldom are wormy.

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

Actually I was working with a bunch of cherries growers today (28 Jun) in The Dalles and Hood River, They just started 'prime' (retail / shelf ready) picking this week and will continue through mid-august.

Do you know what kinds? On the west side we're past the season for most of them.

[silibran]

I found PNW cherries on my first foray into Fred Meyer today for $1.50/lb. I don't like Fred Meyer, really, but we bought a few things. We located WF and New Seasons, so they are on my list.

Our apartment is very nice, and the people we have relied on to get us furnished and connected have been helpful. I am astounded that people make conversation with us as we check out in stores! They have been asking if we have plans for the fourth, you know, small talk. But the small talk goes on. People are very friendly. I am used to some friendliness in the stores, but usually from people who have have dealt with me before.

I am not sure if I totally like all this friendliness, but overall, so far, I have to say Vacouverites are really nice. I also notice a sharp contrast from OR as we cross the I205 bridge. It is so green in Vancouver.

But wow, it is cold for July.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by silibran

I found PNW cherries on my first foray into Fred Meyer today for $1.50/lb. I don't like Fred Meyer, really, but we bought a few things. We located WF and New Seasons, so they are on my list.

...
I am not sure if I totally like all this friendliness, but overall, so far, I have to say Vacouverites are really nice. I also notice a sharp contrast from OR as we cross the I205 bridge. It is so green in Vancouver.

But wow, it is cold for July.

You might be won over to Fred's, I like them, tho seldom shop other than sale brochure (free in mail on Wed). I like QFC for produce (NOW owned by Kroger as well... when they bought Fred's)

Try Gateway Produce off Andreson~20th st, but realize they are a 'liquidator' (Low prices on fresh produce that Name brand stores excess, or also farm > market stuff that is short on eye appeal (Quality varies, but I like to support their store / effort to bring lower cost goods to foodies (and poor folk)). I buy 50 - 80% of my 'off season' produce there. (I try to support farmers during season.)

Be grateful for friends, some don't find We_t WA so friendly Making Friends in Western Washington

YMMV. Have a good 4th, Vancouver offers one of the best venues for that. Deal with the crowds and enjoy our GREAT resource of Ft Vancouver National Historic Site.

COLD is about over (jul 5th is usual time for warmth & or annual 80 days in a row of clear skies) Enjoy Vancouver and Portland activities in July and August (free concerts and movies NIGHTLY in park.) Of course don't miss the CMNW festivities, including the free concert at OHS (Oregon Historical Society) noon on Tues. Jul 10th. Also free rehearsal at Reed college on Weds 11AM, (go to Rhodie gardens across the street for a cool reprieve on a HOT day.) Also enjoy the showroom at Joinery (woodstock). Handmade HIGH quality furniture. (From sustainable forests).

[bythesea444]

For top quality produce, I would like to recommend Vancouvers Farmers Market.

Rain or Shine it happens Saturdays & Sundays next to Esther Short Park.

Moderator cut: link removed

---alan