Groceries

[mossly]

Originally Posted by marcopolo666

Where do you live? I could make mom-and-pop recommendations, but it would depend on where you are. Also, what are you looking for? Cheap toilet paper? A huge cereal selection? Great meat? Fantastic fruits & veggies? Because you aren't going to find ONE place with the best of everything.

So tell us what city, and if it's huge like SJ, N/S/E/W .

Personally, I get most of my fruit and veggies from local farmer's markets. The price difference between the FM and chain stores has almost disappeared (unless they are having a weekly sale on, say, peaches). I have 2 FMs in a 2-mi radius, and 2 more in a 6-mi radius, all different days, so I am pretty spoiled.

For my meat, I go to Halal butchers. Their religion requires humane treatment of animals, no hormones, all natural. I have 3 halal butchers within a 5-mile drive, and the meat is *excellent* !! Grass-fed, no-antibiotic Harris Ranch NY strip for $8/lb., every day !!

I'm in Cambrain. Good question!

It's sounding from this thread like farmer's markets are the way to go for fruits and veggies. I'm from the East Coast, and our farmer's markets there are way pricey compared to grocery stores...but if that's not the case here, then I'm thrilled to give it a shot. Farmer's markets were a good choice in the Midwest, too.

I'm not worried about meat (we rarely eat it) or toilet paper (I get that stuff elsewhere). But good produce, a good natural/organic selection, and good selection on staples like yogurt, cereal, and bread. I guess in my ideal world every grocery store would be Whole Foods, except I'm not made of bags of cash. Or Wegmans, if you've heard of them...but they haven't made it out here yet as far as I know....

[capoeira]

Originally Posted by mossly

I'm in Cambrain.

I guess in my ideal world every grocery store would be Whole Foods,

If you go down to Santa Cruz check out the New Leaf market. I like New Leaf better than Whole Foods. Sprouts market may also be worth checking out but I have found the quality varies a lot depending on location with these stores.

[mossly]

Will do, thank you!

[darkeconomist]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

There is a ton of competition. I grew up in Morgan Hill and there were only three choices there.. Lucky, Nob Hill, and Safeway. All of those stores had long lines and high prices. Now I live in south San Jose and within a short drive I have Safeway, Lucky, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Walmart, Costco, Zanotto's, Sprouts, Smart & Final, Lunardi's, Chavez, Mi Pueblo, Indian markets, Persian markets, mom & pop stores.. the variety is dizzying. Get out of the Safeway-centric mindset - that's where you go if you need to pick up cheap, brand-name water and paper towels. For stuff where quality matters I go elsewhere.

Depends on your definition of "short drive," and, depending on the time of day, short may not be the same as quick.

[PinaCarlotta]

There's a New Seasons market on Silver Creek VR. I went once, a year or so ago (it was New Leaf), but it's too far to justify the trip for me, but plenty of Yelp reviewers love it.

[MediocreButArrogant]

If you're going to incur the high cost of living to be here, you may as well take advantage of the best of what the area has to offer.

[bigdumbgod]

^^^This. It is folly as a resident to take a pass on the bounty of the Valley of Heart's Delight.