This has been a tough weekend for me. It’s the first time I’ve seriously questioned this project and have toyed with the idea of just stopping. What happened? Well, I realized I’ve spent $267.44 on food from Farmers’ Markets over the past 11 days and my bank account definitely notices the hole.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common question I’ve received is whether it’s more expensive to shop at the Farmers’ Markets. I’ve been saying that the veggies and fruits are about comparable (in some cases noticeably cheaper) and since they’re so much fresher and taste better than most of what I would get at the super market — totally worth it. A great example is fresh basil. I spent $1 for a heaping sandwich bag of fresh basil at the Durham Market. I’m sure at Harris Teeter I would need to buy two pre-packaged plastic containers of basil to equal the same amount and both would probably cost around $4.
This sweet farmer let me take a picture of his great marketing at the Carrboro Farmers' Market Saturday.
But the meats are more than what I personally would pay (and understandably so). The cheeses also cost more than what I personally would pay, though they’re not out of line for what you would spend on gourmet cheeses from the cheese case in the grocery store. (I tend to buy bagged, pre-shredded cheeses for convenience, which is cheaper and less flavorful). And yet, the meats and cheeses are some of the best I’ve ever had. So, in a way, it’s totally worth it.
Regardless, I am definitely spending more on Farmers’ Market food than I would on typical grocery trips.
Flaw in my Process
I think the flaw in my Farmers’ Market Project, as well-meaning as it is, is that I’ve literally only been eating food from markets. And, with one exception (which I will reveal in a separate post) I have not cheated once. I have used condiments from my cupboard, but I wrote that exception into my initial rules. So when I go to the market, I have to stock up or go hungry. I think that alone is forcing me to spend more than I would prefer for this project.
The Pasta Example
For example, I spent $7.50 on 10 raviolis from a vendor at the Durham Farmers’ Market on Wednesday. Granted, they were more flavorful than anything I would have ordered from Olive Garden and definitely cheaper than a dish at Olive Garden. And if you remember my attempt at making home made pasta sauce, I spent about $8 on four pounds of tomatoes and then after hours of labor, only managed to get about a cup and a half of sauce.
I paid $7.50 for about 10 raviolis. I had to make the sauce myself, so that adds up too.
But, if I were making my own pasta-based meal at home, I would spend about $1 or so on a box of pasta (which would last me more than one serving) and then spend about $4 on a jar of sauce. Would it have tasted as good as the homemade ravioli or pasta sauce above? Definitely not. But I would still have enough leftovers for another couple of meals, which means I would save at least $7 and as much as $15 if you consider other ingredients I needed to finish the Farmers’ Market pasta dinners.
It’s Going to Be OK
So, for me personally, yes, the Farmers’ Market is definitely more expensive than the grocery store. But that’s because every ingredient I need is coming from the market. If I were just incorporating some of the food from the market into existing dishes, it would be a wash, or in some cases a savings.
But, I know if I had not forced myself into eating only from the market for 30 days, I would not have learned so much about where my food is coming from, about my eating habits and about how to fight personal urges for chocolate and fast food.
So, I’m going to continue on my quest. Today is Day 13, I wonder what I should cook for breakfast?
I agree with your assessment about the veggie and meat prices. We shop at the farmer’s market regularly but only for in-season items like tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, zucchini, peaches, etc. We also belong to a weekly CSA though Brinkley Farms where we can get pork, sausage and eggs (in addition to veggies). This makes local meat more affordable than what I’ve found at the farmer’s markets. Keep up the good work!
Hi Ginny!
Stopping by to see how things are going…
I love the look of your blog and really admire your goals here.
I’ve never purchased homemade pasta before… I know if I did, it would be a MEMORABLE treat! (My grandmother used to make it herself – it was an all day project, dough, rolling out the little shapes and drying the pasta-The anticipation was great!)
Fresh is so different ~ so amazing.
I may be at the farmers markets more often this summer since the little critters are enjoying my garden before we do!
*Maria*
Making pasta doesn’t have to be an all day affair if you get a pasta maker attachment – and that brings the cost way down!
Wow, great project.
My boyfriend and I mostly get most of our food from the Farmer’s Market. It’s easy for us though because we’re just a bit down the road from the big State market. I find that their prices tend to be more competitive than the other Triangle markets–especially the little markets at North Hills and Moore’s Square and the like.
As for cost, it’s a lot like the grocery store in it depends on what you buy. I avoid meats in general and pre-prepared foods. What’s been good for our wallets is actually eating all the food we buy. We rarely have things spoil. So for us, scoping deal at the market means we’re eating freshly and cheaply. Like Leandra says, CSAs are really the way to go for meat.
As much produce as there is in summer, though, I still love the winter market. Root veggies and kale abound and it’s DELISH.