by Colin Aina
The following sentence is going to shock and surprise you;
I f@*king hate farmer’s markets and I do not shop at Whole Foods, yet I still eat primarily organic groceries. I know what you're thinking..I'm full of crap.
I'd been to the local farmer's markets at the end of Blackstone Boulevard in Providence, RI and the indoor winter one at the Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket numerous times and sporadically bought things. "Yea it was pricey, but I'm supporting my local businesses". "I'm such a locavore!" I thought to myself all the while trying to make myself feel warm and fuzzy that I just pretty much wasted my hard-earned money. The final straw was when I spent over $25 for a half pound of coffee, 4 peaches and a few peppers. Why does natural, local food have to cost so damn much!?? I was with my sister and she was going to buy a 4oz package of chevre (goat cheese to the normal people). Cheese in hand, she went to cash out, "That will be eight dollars" the proprietor said. In response, I made a face as if I smelled a fart. "No..I'm all set" said my sister. $8 USD hard currency for 3 heaping tablespoonfuls of goat cheese..EFFING ridiculous!
I shouldn't have to lecture you on the inequity in this country in terms of access to healthy food. Socioeconomic status correlates along the same trend as the rate of obesity (and child obesity). Flat out, it's very expensive to eat organically and healthy, there's a reason why the concentration of fast food restaurants in poorer neighborhoods is high. It's hard to convince someone who's skirting the poverty line to go to Whole Foods or to a farmer's market when they can save much more money by going to a fast food restaurant, Save A Lot, and the Dollar Store. Just for some context, here are some numbers where I live in Rhode Island:
- 1 out of every 7.5 RI residents are living in poverty
- Children aged 6 and under and 6 to 11 account for 20.9% and 19.4% of poverty by age respectively.
- Providence has the 3rd highest poverty rate in the state at 26.9%. That's just over 1 in 4 ppl.
I'm also going to state that I am a severe advocate for local, small businesses and I get that that will sometimes be associated with a higher price tag. I'd rather pay a bit more for things if I know that that money is stimulating my area instead of a corporation halfway across the country or world. If the service is worth it, I'd gladly pay more to "keep it local"...to an extent. I've never liked Whole Foods, but have reluctantly shopped there a number of times in the past. Their prices were always inflated. We now have more of a reason not to shop there with it's recent acquisition by Amazon. To be fair, once that acquisition was in place prices were on average 20% lower. BUT since Mr. Besos recently decided to cut his employee's health benefits, he can go F#&K himself.
So what's the solution? How can we spend less to eat healthier and organic? Also, how do we get the people who are at the highest risk for health problems due to poor nutrition to as well?
Well luckily you're reading this cause I GOTCHU!!
#1. Stop shopping at the big markets, they aren't the only ones offering organic food!
I've been an ALDI shopper since they first appeared on RI soil from Germany (first US store opened in 1976, Iowa). They have their own line of organic food and their prices can't be beat, period. Veggies, fruit, red meat, fish, poultry, snacks, everything. They even have an isle called ALDI finds where you can get interesting housewares. I bought my dutch oven ($30) and my vaccuum ($50) there. The organic veggies and fruits are sometimes limited due to the season, but they always have my staples of organic kale in a bag and the big plastic containers of organic spring mix.
Next in line is Price Rite..they too have been increasing their organic inventory over the years. I've actually bought New Zealand grass-fed steak and organic lamb at Price Rite.
Here's a great article chronicling ALDIs success and how they keep cost down, passing the savings onto the consumer.
**https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2019/05/business/aldi-walmart-low-food-prices/index.html
#2. Join a CSA.
Community Supported Agriculture has been growing in the US over the past few years for good reason. Supporting local, organic farms instead of factory farms is always a good thing.
How it works:
- Purchase a subscription or share of a farm's produce for the upcoming season.
- That upfront, payment early-season prior to the harvest helps the farms offset their cost and provides security.
- Show up weekly at a set time and pick up your share of the goods!
- You are getting a price break by cutting out the massive supply chain that markets have to go through.
I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Scratch Farm in Cranston, RI actually accepts SNAP.
Here is an example of their CSA program...
25 wk share...
Half share-$23/week. Full-$34/week.
Full share-2-4 adults($850)
Half share- 1-3 adults($575)
**https://guide.farmfreshri.org/food/farm.php?farm=764
So get your butts out there, save some money and eat healthy at the same time!