Happy Cheapskate at the St. John's Farmers' Market
I can't help it. I'm prone to rubber-necking every time I drive by a vegetable stand. I eat a lot of vegetables and hunt them like a vampire after a lost traveller.
- Happy Cheapskate: Just how much wine do you get at a restaurant?
- Happy Cheapskate: Comparison shopping, Nancy-style
For breakfast on weekends, I'll cook up chard or kale in a little chicken broth — maybe give some mushrooms, asparagus and tomatoes a nice, slow fry.
I've noticed in magazines and newspapers that when fall rolls around, they always refer to the harvest as a great time to get CHEAP vegetables. But are they actually cheaper?
And should the price be our biggest concern when buying vegetables?
I'd happily sacrifice a few extra dollars to get veggies and fruits without the pesticides, and to make sure we give local farmers enough profit to stay in business.
That's what shoppers at the St. John's Farmers' Market say too.
None of the vendors is currently certified as "organic."
Several explained they don't use pesticides or herbicides but do use chemical fertilizers so they can't be certified as organic.
Some of them use the term "organic" in their business name (The Organic Farm, Hender's Organic Vegetable Farm) even though they are not certified as such. Frank Hender says it costs up to $2,500 to get certified as organic so they won't do it, but still follow organic principles.
If you are curious about the cost of market vegetables compared to the grocery store, here's a breakdown. I checked out the cheaper stuff at the market, the pricier stuff at the market, and the cost at a Sobeys in St. John's east end.
| Market - Low End | Market - High End | Sobeys | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spuds/1 lb. | $1.20 (Hender's) | $3.00 (Organic Farm) | $.60 |
| Carrot/1 lb. | $1.75 (Mt. Scio) | $2.40 (Hummock Farms) | $1.25 |
| Turnip/1 lb. | $1.00 (Ripple Trail) | $1.25 (Hummock Farms) | $.66 |
| Parsnip/1 lb. | $2.80 (Hummock Farms) | $3.00 (Ripple Trail) | $3.29 |
| Beets/1 lb. | $1.00 (various) | $2.66 |
About the Happy Cheapskate
Like most of us, I hate getting ripped off. Or worse, feeling ripped off.
There are some things worth a higher price to me. I'll fork over cash for a brand name pair of running shoes. I bought cheap ones before and they hurt.
I'll pay for premium chocolate on occasion, but Cadbury rocks my world.
I refuse to pay for a frozen food product that has been bleached, battered, covered in oil and salt and made out to be something nutritious.
The Happy Cheapskate is all about value. Join me as I search for it.
If there's anything you'd like me to look into, email me.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
