Grocery shopping tips during Coronavirus quarantine #2

[PayrollNerd]

Are you still noticing shortages of the food and/or other items you normally purchase? Most of what we've needed/wanted has been available at either Meijer or Salvaggio's, but there are still some items that are in short supply.

For the first time in several weeks, Nino Salvaggio's is offering meats on their weekly specials. Mostly chicken and ribs, both of which are popular during the summer months. Eggs are now plentiful but prices are higher than before the pandemic. We still can't find I Can't Believe It's Not Butter (lite) but are OK with Smart Balance for now. We're low on Lysol spray that hasn't been available at Meijer since the start of the pandemic. Maybe we can score a bundle pack on our June trip to Costco.

I have noticed the normal brands of things I use are usually out. For example, we went to get Gluten Free flour and had to pick a different brand. The 3 lb bag of King Arthur brand was out but the Bob's Red Mill brand was available in 1 lb bags.

My youngest called the bulk store to inquire if they were open and/or allowing her to bring her own containers. They said yes they are and she has all her glass containers ready. It should be interesting to see how that works when she gets there.

 

[crhedBngr]

We've found most of what we needed the past few weeks, thankfully. However, the price increases on some items are (as other posters mentioned above) absurd.

@PayrollNerd , we're also purchasing generic flour instead of Pillsbury.

Philadelphia 1/3 fat cream cheese bars have not been available for several weeks. However, one can buy the 1/3 fat whipped cream cheese. Weird.

 

[crhedBngr]

I have noticed the normal brands of things I use are usually out. For example, we went to get Gluten Free flour and had to pick a different brand. The 3 lb bag of King Arthur brand was out but the Bob's Red Mill brand was available in 1 lb bags.

My youngest called the bulk store to inquire if they were open and/or allowing her to bring her own containers. They said yes they are and she has all her glass containers ready. It should be interesting to see how that works when she gets there.

RBBM

Please do let us know. I'm curious as well.

TIA.

 

[JerseyGirl]

I’ve been able to get normal ShopRite delivery, seems people here are back to shopping in store. My order last week did not come with the 12-pack of Scott TP but I did get the 4-pack. This is the first time since early March that I have found any Scott TP in stock. My husband was thrilled.

We are still on lockdown, been home from work since March 18th.

 

[oviedo]

Quick lunch trip to Aldi - beautiful salmon at 7.69/lb - only 1 ply TP so I bought for work as we are nearly out. Eggs plentiful and only 1.16 - no pork tenderloins which I love. the line formed to get in as i was leaving and produce area was crowded so i skipped that completely. I like to go early Sat am so will try that. lots of box wine - i bought 2 white and 1 red so I can make sangria. most had masks. Aldi accepts apple pay - I really like that.

I envy the lock down folks - we are essential and other than working from home one day when I returned from my March cruise - I am in the office every day. At least the lawyers are wearing a mask when clients are but if the client is not - forget it.

 

[PayrollNerd]

RBBM

Please do let us know. I'm curious as well.

TIA.

Will do. Drats! Stymied by the rain! She will probably go tomorrow. She drives a small car that sits low so no driving due to roads flooding.

 

[crhedBngr]

Will do. Drats! Stymied by the rain! She will probably go tomorrow. She drives a small car that sits low so no driving due to roads flooding.

Oooo! That looks nasty.

Yes, better to stay safe.

 

[LadyL]

dbm wrong thread

 

[Gardener1850]

I had to go to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription refill this week and for the first time in months the store was completely empty. Every time I have gone anywhere since mid-March the stores have been packed with parking lots nearly full. No matter what time of day I tried to go it was always busy. Some days reminded me of Black Friday shopping. I was so surprised to once again not see any other customers in the store (which was normal at certain times of day in my small town pharmacy pre-pandemic). After the pharmacy, I decided to take a drive by a few other stores to gauge activity level. Just about every parking lot I checked was sparse-- maybe the busiest store was Walmart but it wasn't even very busy for Walmart (maybe a half-full lot of cars). In previous weeks I have driven by there and decided against going in due to crowds and lack of open parking spaces. I didn't do any more shopping because I don't need anything, but I came home feeling optimistic that maybe things are returning to "normal" here. Being able to do grocery shopping again without crowds of people closing in all around me will be a huge relief. I'm still getting my CSA veggies every week. Between the CSA and my garden, I can get away with doing a shopping trip only once or twice a month.

 

[PayrollNerd]

RBBM

Please do let us know. I'm curious as well.

TIA.

Ok, replying again to the same post with an update. My kid went to the bulk store in Ellenton, FL tonight. A few months ago a new owner bought the place and has made some changes. They’ve tweaked the product offerings and installed a hand washing station. They have curbside pickup an online ordering.

You can bring your own clean containers, which is where the rest of my canning jars went, but I digress. LOL! I did give her my empty Tupperware container that I used to use for regular flour. I bleached it out then let it dry for 24 hours. We had washed and bleached out a few pickle jars too. She had a few clean spice containers too.

They weighed her containers, then she was allowed to fill them. The GF flour was about 10-15 cents more per pound. But she said it was nice to get a container of it, instead of a small bag.

They are on Facebook and have a website for online ordering. They will deliver too if you’re in their delivery area.

Bulk Food Superstore Ellenton
For orders of $30 and above, make sure to use code BULKFOOD34 at checkout for a discount! You can now order online products from our shelves and bins and request delivery if you live in the following zip codes: 34222, 34219, 34212, 34208, 34221, 34205, 34207, 34203, 34209. Don't see your zip code listed? No worries! You can still place an order but make sure to select "in-person pickup" at checkout.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Limit on meats. Two pack limit.
No paper products.
No jar/can spaghetti sauce of any size or brand.
Frozen vegetables are hit or miss.
Plenty of eggs.
Avocados are $2.50 each.

 

[mickey2942]

Limit on meats. Two pack limit.
No paper products.
No jar/can spaghetti sauce of any size or brand.
Frozen vegetables are hit or miss.
Plenty of eggs.
Avocados are $2.50 each.

Wow, where do you live? I was at two stores yesterday, finally relieved that the stores were fully stocked with everything. No limits.

In March, when the stores were literally empty, I was really triggered by the overwhelming stress level of it all. Glad that things are more or less more normal here now.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Wow, where do you live? I was at two stores yesterday, finally relieved that the stores were fully stocked with everything. No limits.

In March, when the stores were literally empty, I was really triggered by the overwhelming stress level of it all. Glad that things are more or less more normal here now.

NC/SC area.
The paper products aisle has never been restocked since early March.
And Costco was a nightmare. Once was enough. Customers ignored social distancing and half wore masks - all ages at senior hour. I left without buying anything.

 

[mickey2942]

NC/SC area.
The paper products aisle has never been restocked since early March.
And Costco was a nightmare. Once was enough. Customers ignored social distancing and half wore masks - all ages at senior hour. I left without buying anything.

Las Vegas Costco is the same. Lines stretched out clear to the back of the store. My Mom refuses to shop there. She prefers the small neighborhood CVS, they carry milk, eggs.

 

[Tbone144]

I have noticed the normal brands of things I use are usually out. For example, we went to get Gluten Free flour and had to pick a different brand. The 3 lb bag of King Arthur brand was out but the Bob's Red Mill brand was available in 1 lb bags.

My youngest called the bulk store to inquire if they were open and/or allowing her to bring her own containers. They said yes they are and she has all her glass containers ready. It should be interesting to see how that works when she gets there.

Juls gluten free flour is the best I’ve found, available on line. The bread mixes are good too. I just ordered a 6 pack to restock.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Juls gluten free flour is the best I’ve found, available on line. The bread mixes are good too. I just ordered a 6 pack to restock.

I never heard of them so I looked them up. It seems quite pricey compared to what we are finding. Good to have another source tho. Thanks for the tip!

 

[killarney rose]

I've noticed Publix still has empty shelves. Their paper and cleaning product aisles are empty. But the Dollar General and local grocers have pretty much full shelves except the wipes and a few cleaning products.

 

[Gardenista]

Found tons of hand sanitizer at CVS

 

[PayrollNerd]

Supporting our local farm which closes for the summer tomorrow. I bought 1 case of Roma tomatoes and 1 case of regular tomatoes. My plan is to make marinara sauce and freeze it. Then we can dress it up depending on what we use it for, pizza, pasta, etc. Now, to go pick thru them and set out the ones that need to ripen a bit more. My friends will be stopping by for some.

$5/case!
Hunsader Farms

 

[Tbone144]

I never heard of them so I looked them up. It seems quite pricey compared to what we are finding. Good to have another source tho. Thanks for the tip!

It is pretty pricey but it does a wonderful job being substituted into recipes. Most people don’t know they are eating gluten free baked goods when I make them. It’s not perfect, doesn’t make a flour tortilla very well, tasty but not aesthetically pleasing.