I got a food scale over the weekend, and have now finally made it to 3 local grocery stores that sell produce to compare prices. The 3 stores I chose to compare are Wal-Mart, Safeway, and Fry’s. We also have a commissary and Food City here, but I figured that 3 stores was enough to give a general idea. I was able to find prices for everything except for figs, which I could not find at any stores here. They weighed half a pound, so I estimated them to be about $5/lb, which would be $2.50 total for the amount I got. If anyone has a better price for figs, let me know. Here is the breakdown.
| Item |
Qty |
WM Price |
WM Total |
SW Price |
SW Total |
Fry’s Price |
Fry’s Total |
| Broccoli (lb) |
2.81 |
$1.28 |
$3.60 |
$1.49 |
$4.19 |
$0.96 |
$2.70 |
| Yellow onion (lb) |
2.13 |
$1.16 |
$2.47 |
$0.96 |
$2.04 |
$0.78 |
$1.66 |
| Yams (lb) |
2.41 |
$0.98 |
$2.36 |
$1.49 |
$3.59 |
$1.29 |
$3.11 |
| Cucumbers (ea) |
2.00 |
$0.64 |
$1.28 |
$0.99 |
$1.98 |
$0.59 |
$1.18 |
| Avocado (ea) |
3.00 |
$0.98 |
$2.94 |
$0.99 |
$2.97 |
$1.25 |
$3.75 |
| Bananas (lb) |
2.20 |
$0.56 |
$1.23 |
$0.57 |
$1.25 |
$0.69 |
$1.52 |
| Figs (lb) |
0.50 |
$5.00 |
$2.50 |
$5.00 |
$2.50 |
$5.00 |
$2.50 |
| Grapes (lb) |
2.12 |
$1.88 |
$3.99 |
$2.49 |
$5.28 |
$1.98 |
$4.20 |
| Bartlett Pears (lb) |
1.71 |
$1.17 |
$2.00 |
$1.49 |
$2.55 |
$1.00 |
$1.71 |
| Gala Apples (lb) |
2.14 |
$1.57 |
$3.36 |
$1.69 |
$3.62 |
$1.79 |
$3.83 |
| Plums (lb) |
2.00 |
$1.25 |
$2.50 |
$2.49 |
$4.98 |
$1.98 |
$3.96 |
| Apple Pears (ea) |
2.00 |
$1.47 |
$2.94 |
$1.00 |
$2.00 |
$1.49 |
$2.98 |
|
$31.17 |
$36.95 |
$33.09 |
The average of the 3 totals is $33.74. Sales tax on food in AZ is 1.75%, so after tax my total at the store would be $34.33. I paid $15 plus $1.50 handling fee, so $16.50 altogether. That makes my savings $17.83, or 52%. I am very happy with that number! This is the first time that I have actually gotten all the numbers, so now I am curious to see how it will compare throughout the year.
Note: Prices are from stores in southeastern AZ, prices may vary in other locations. Also, please know that I volunteered this week and did get 1 extra item, which was 2 apples. The weight of food may vary from another basket because of volunteering and because of variances in how the ends of produce cases are distributed after everything has been distributed evenly.
My Gems of Parenting 
Interesting….if I could find out ahead of time specifically what I was getting, I’d probably do it. I don’t like to be surprised. Although, it might make my cooking menu a little more intersting that way.
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Part of the fun of Bountiful Baskets is the surprise each week and branching out to try new things! Most of the things I get were never in my weekly menu or on my list to get before, but now it’s like a challenge each week to come up with things to make with it.
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