Tag Archives: weekly basket

Basket Breakdown 9/17/2011 – Update

20 Sep

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.

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Basket Breakdown 9/17/2011

17 Sep

This week I contributed $15 for the conventional basket, plus the $1.50 handling fee, so $16.50 total.  Here is what I got at Bountiful Baskets this morning.

I got broccoli, onions, avocados, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, bananas, grapes, figs, pears, Gala apples, Asian pears, and plums.  We’ll be eating up the apples and plums pretty quickly, I’m sure.  Once the avocados are a little more ripe, I will make guacamole or perhaps fish tacos.  Still working on a plan for the rest of it, so we’ll see how this week goes with cooking.  I am also hoping to get a scale today to weight the produce and compare with grocery store prices to finally get a good comparison on how much I’m saving with this each week.

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Basket Breakdown 9/10/2011

10 Sep

This week I contributed $15 for the conventional basket, plus the $1.50 handling fee, so $16.50 total.  Here is what I got at Bountiful Baskets this morning.

I got a head of lettuce, spinach, green beans, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, table grapes, peaches, pears, bananas, figs, and plums.

The lettuce and spinach I washed and dried, so wish I had a salad spinner to help with drying.  Then, I wrap it in paper towels and put it in gallon size zipper bags, making sure to let as much air out as I can.  It really helps keep it fresh longer.  Cauliflower, I might try making roasted cauliflower as a side to salmon and rice.  The sweet potatoes, I will probably make sweet potato fries as a side to cheesy spinach burgers.  Green beans, I might blanch and freeze.  I’m still working on ideas for the figs, possibly a fig cake or cookies.  We’ll see how the week goes for cooking!

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