I went grocery shopping today. It's been about 2 weeks since I left the house (other than to work in my yard/garden). I decided to drive farther away to a bigger grocery store this time. I have been avoiding doing this due to there being more diagnosed cases in the area where I needed to go. But it was a really successful trip. I found grassfed beef and organic ground chicken! No organic chicken breasts or thighs but I bought some natural ones. The meat cases were pretty well stocked except for the pork. A few packages of Smithfield pork were left on the shelf but the areas all around the Smithfield pork were bare. I was quite surprised. Southerners love their pork, especially Smithfield. I assume the bare areas were spaces where other brands of pork were originally located and people are avoiding Smithfield right now because of the news about them having many employees diagnosed with Covid19. Despite the bare spots in the pork section I was able to get some uncured/nitrate free bacon. We haven't had any pork in over a month. I was so happy that there was plenty of meat, I nearly cried in front of the meat case.
The store I went to today had no limits on meat but limited some other items, mostly canned goods and shelf stable items. The main items I noticed that were out or had huge gaps on their shelves: Canned soups, jarred spaghetti sauce, cereal, flour, sugar, dried beans and paper products. With the exception of toilet paper, all of these things were available in some form but certain brands were totally gone. I wasn't trying to buy any of those items except TP but I took note of what was out anyway. Many items that had been sold out in my local stores in the first 4 weeks of the shutdown were fully stocked. The canned tuna shelves were full. The dairy area was totally stocked. Egg prices have skyrocketed for some reason and were double my normal price. However, I only buy brown Free Range/Organic Eggs and I didn't check the price of the regular white ones. Organic bananas were only .69 cents a lb which is a rock bottom price for my area. Everything else I bought seemed to be normal prices. My grated Parmesan without cellulose is still not in stock so I treated myself to a small block of it from the fancy cheese case. Doubled my Parm cost this week but I figured I could afford it because of the banana savings. And I didn't buy any eggs. There was lots of produce and vegan meat replacement options were fully stocked there.
The majority of people in the store had on masks this time. Employees stocking shelves had on masks too. However, very few other people had gloves. Perhaps they have not been able to get them? We always keep gloves on hand and happened to buy a box in Feb only because we were out. The only other person I saw in the store wearing gloves was obviously a medical person. She was in her full scrubs and wearing her hospital ID. She looked weary, like she had just finished a shift. I wanted to hug her but I stayed away and silently prayed for her instead. It's so hard when wearing a mask and people can't see your facial expressions.
All in all, it was a great shopping trip. I got everything on my list except for toilet paper and eggs. I will have to go on a hunt for TP later. We have 1 dozen eggs so we are OK for now on those. And my neighbors have hens so I might be able to barter with them for some eggs.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, DH could not get brown sugar.
I checked Amazon. They are charging over $24 for two bags (2 lbs. each).
Absurd.
JMVHO.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, DH could not get brown sugar.
I checked Amazon. They are charging over $24 for two bags (2 lbs. each).
Absurd.
JMVHO.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, DH could not get brown sugar.
I checked Amazon. They are charging over $24 for two bags (2 lbs. each).
Absurd.
JMVHO.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, DH could not get brown sugar.
I checked Amazon. They are charging over $24 for two bags (2 lbs. each).
Absurd.
JMVHO.
I think having a supply of items that can easily last 4-6 weeks is reasonable and not hoarding. More than that starts to creep into hoarding territory.The last few months, I picked up extra bags of flour, sugar, lots of various ingredients. Our house is stocked and overstuffed with food. Is that "hoarding"? I don't think so. I wasn't sure how long we would be home, or how bad this situation would be...so many unknowns. Even now.
I think having a supply of items that can easily last 4-6 weeks is reasonable and not hoarding. More than that starts to creep into hoarding territory...
I routinely do this as well - it's not hoarding IMO - I always prepare early for hurricane season with canned goods and rice that may be cooked on the grill when the power goes out. I just buy a little bit each time I venture out to round out what we've eaten. I did get one each of several meats when I heard of the "meat" shortage on the Today show. I have first responder friends and I want to be able to loan them anything they need from TP to meat to canned goodsThe last few months, I picked up extra bags of flour, sugar, lots of various ingredients. Our house is stocked and overstuffed with food. Is that "hoarding"? I don't think so. I wasn't sure how long we would be home, or how bad this situation would be...so many unknowns. Even now.
I routinely do this as well - it's not hoarding IMO - I always prepare early for hurricane season with canned goods and rice that may be cooked on the grill when the power goes out. I just buy a little bit each time I venture out to round out what we've eaten. I did get one each of several meats when I heard of the "meat" shortage on the Today show. I have first responder friends and I want to be able to loan them anything they need from TP to meat to canned goods
JMO
I don't think keeping a month or two supply is hoarding. When your shopping cart is 10 pkgs of one thing like TP, that’s hoarding.The last few months, I picked up extra bags of flour, sugar, lots of various ingredients. Our house is stocked and overstuffed with food. Is that "hoarding"? I don't think so. I wasn't sure how long we would be home, or how bad this situation would be...so many unknowns. Even now.
@BetteDavisEyes I started making turkey gumbo about 15 years ago for the neighbors with my leftover turkey - we would have leftovers day - After I cook the turkey I make stock - usually in a stock pot with onion, celery carrot and garlic cloves and simmer for a few hours. This time, I threw the carcass in the crock pot with an onion chopped up and some garlic and let it cook all night until I got home from work. Broth tasted as good as when I added all those vegetables.Even without sausage, I find Zatarain's and Vigo's bean/rice mixes to be too spicy. I usually end up with heartburn DH likes them for lunch. I like making dishes like red/black beans and rice from scratch so I can control the type and amount of spice. I like Gumbo but don't recall having made it, certainly not recently. Will give it some thought. Will you share your recipe?
I figured out what the Angel Soft smell is like: Linen Breeze Bounce dryer sheets. There is apparently lavender-scented Angel Soft TP, but that's not what DH got. I prefer non-fragranced dryer sheets, but my preferred Arm & Hammer brand wasn't available the last time I needed them.
@BetteDavisEyes I started making turkey gumbo about 15 years ago for the neighbors with my leftover turkey - we would have leftovers day - After I cook the turkey I make stock - usually in a stock pot with onion, celery carrot and garlic cloves and simmer for a few hours. This time, I threw the carcass in the crock pot with an onion chopped up and some garlic and let it cook all night until I got home from work. Broth tasted as good as when I added all those vegetables. My base recipe is from Emeril (my hero) - Turkey Bone Gumbo...BEST EVER IMO
Small and local is where it’s at. We have a dairy farm, veggie farm, sod farm that grows organic produce and a Mennonite community in SWFL. If you want excellent product at a decent price, go local.Just a quick note... after a former career working in law enforcement, I joined my family business 20 years ago which is in the food industry. So I want to offer a quick tip, instead of relying strictly on the grocery stores for your fresh meat/poultry, try and use your local butcher shops if you have one close by. While it may be a bit more costly on some items, you will be helping a small business stay open, and you are almost guaranteed to get what you are looking for in a quantity you can use with super fresh product. Most have organic/grass fed/natural options as well for those looking for that type of product.
Costco has plenty of toilet paper and towel paper, but they do not have disinfectant
wipes or alcohol--- not one store or supermarket has wipes and i got scammed trying to buy it online --
My Great Grandmother had a little wire box, with a handle. She put all of the slivers of hand soap in there. And when it was time to do dishes, she put hot water in the sink, and swished around her "dish soap" dispenser until the water was frothy.
I might have to try that - I hate throwing out those slivers.