Shopping Locally

Yesterday, Squishy and I went grocery shopping at the store that now rivals Publix for my business.

It's a one-of-a-kind, family-run business that sells a host of local produce (along with specialty and organic items).

Fresh flowers

 Now, in my head, when I hear "local grocery store," I think "expensive." And for many of the dry goods in this store, that holds true.

But the fruits, veggies, and meats in this store? Quite the opposite! It's one of the cheapest places to purchase produce in town. And since much of the produce is local, it tastes better that it's Publix counterpart.

I enjoy the "old-fashioned" feel of shopping in a small grocery store. The lanes are narrow and the floors are uneven. Almost all of the "baggers" are older ladies or gentlemen. Squishy is quickly winning his way into all of their hearts, because he has taken to blowing them repeated kisses every time we're in the store.

My grocery helper

The best part about my local store? The discount carts! Oh the treasures I have found there...this week it was discounted bananas (something we can never have enough of at our house!)...

There were also Brussels Sprouts (forgive my misspelling in the above picture), but somehow I didn't go so crazy about those.

Right now, our budget is too tight to allow shopping locally purely for the sake of shopping locally. While I think it's awesome to support near-by farmers, have a better idea of where my food is coming from, and know how it's been grown, right now price dictates where I shop. But when I find a local resource that also meets the budget, it's exciting!

Some other awesome resources I have found in my town:

U-pick strawberries in season
U-pick blueberries in season (there is actually a field nearby that offers FREE blueberries if you come out and pick them!)
Honey man that sells raw, local honey, delivered to my door for much cheaper than I could get average honey!
An abundance of farmer's markets (although these can be hit or miss as far as price goes...I need to work on my bargaining skills!)
Mulberry tree nearly in my backyard

Soon I'm hoping to have fresh produce straight from our garden! All the plants are flowering...whooo-hooo!!

Ideally, if I can't grow my own, one day I'd love to participate in an organic CSA or co-op. Right now that's now quite in the budget, so I'm simply enjoying the affordable (or free!) local resources at hand.

Have you scoped out the local food sources in your town?



Linked to Homemaking Link-Up and Works For Me Wednesday.

Shopping Locally