Consumerism
September 28, 2006
My mom and I went grocery shopping today – oooooh exciting. We went to Safeway and I think that is now my favorite grocery store. Why would I write about a grocery store you ask?
Well, I got spoiled living in Portland. There were 2 organic grocery stores in a 1 mile radius from the house and the prices at those places was pretty reasonable. I would totally buy organic as much as I could/afford and it rocked.
Honolulu is a pretty expensive place to live – especially when it comes to groceries. Produce sucks here – most the stuff you buy is not “fresh” fresh. You can totally tell that the stuff has been in transit for a couple of weeks before you buy it. Fruit is labeled as ripe – but I don’t know what kind of definition the stores here use when it comes to ripeness. Like, say I’ll buy a ripe peach – it isn’t green or anything – but it will be as crunchy as an apple – go figure.
But, that’s a semi digression. I also got in the habit of buying just regular organic groceries whenever I could when I was in Oregon and that stuff is so expensive here, it’s depressing.
But Safeway makes me happy when it comes to grocery shopping. Why? Well, they have a store brand line of organic groceries called appropriately enough – “Organics.”
The best thing about Organics is that the products cost a little bit more than store brand stuff, but less than national brand stuff! For example – pasta was on sale today – regular sized bags – for $1/bag! The pasta sauce costs less than like Barila or any other brand like that. A box of 7 grain flake cereal was $3 compared to $6 for a box of cornflakes! How cool is that?
I am impressed that the stores here now carry more organic products, but the costs are too high for my budget right now. A organic grocer opened near Kahala this year and I have yet to check it out, but I could never find the place. Whole Foods is also supposed to be opening a store here within a year and I am excited about that.
Filed under: Consumer Whore
