Grocery Savings; Community Supported Agriculture
WILLIS: We've all been there, you make a list, head to the grocery store and later come out wondering how you spent so much money and only have a few bags to show for it. Our next guest is here to tell you ways to save on the grocery bill and get the most for your money. Holley Grainger is a registered dietitian and food editor at MyRecipes.com. Holly, I am glad you're here because there are lots of tricks to the trade here that we want to sort of tell people about.</s>HOLLEY GRAINGER, MYRECIPES.COM: There are.</s>WILLIS: And I want to start with the idea of unit pricing, because this is something that we all seem to pay attention to. You look at the price per ounce and you make your calls on the basis of that. You try to get the best deal possible and you say that's not always the key to getting a great deal.</s>GRAINGER: There are some exceptions. You're right, that is a great way to cost compare like items, but for things like meat and poultry, the exception, you want to look at the cost per serving because when you're looking at the unit price per ounce or per pound, you might be looking at some of those inedible portions like chicken bones or things you don't want to worry about.</s>WILLIS: Chicken neck, the gizzards, you're not eating that stuff, right.</s>GRAINGER: You don't want that. So, look at the cost per serving, that's the best way to save money.</s>WILLIS: All right, so let's talk a little bit about some other ways to save. You know, we talked about going to the warehouse club, which I love to go to, and I tend to just like load up on things and I buy something 10 for $10, multiple items for one price. You say that can be a problem.</s>GRAINGER: It can be a problem, especially if you buy items like that are perishable because you'll end up throwing away much of what you don't need. So, watch out. Even if the price is right, don't overbuy. And unless it's something that you can share with someone else, then you want to be careful because a lot of times that 10 for $10 might mean one for $1, so it's the same thing. You can still get the good price, but watch out. Another thing is a lot of times those items that are marked on sale, aren't always the lowest option, so just make sure to cost compare.</s>WILLIS: Yeah, you definitely have to look at those definitely have to look at those prices. Let's talk a little bit too, about, you know, how you make those comparisons. Shopping leisurely, you said, can cost you money. Now, you've got this idea that you plan it all out, what you're buy by the routes in the store.</s>GRAINGER: That's right. At MyRecipies.com we like to tell you, make a list and base it on your grocery store, so pair like items together. Pair all your vegetables together, pair your meats together. But one thing to note, is for every minute that you spend in the grocery store after 30 minutes, per minute you spend 50 cents to a dollar more on your final grocery bill.</s>WILLIS: What? That's amazing.</s>GRAINGER: We like to say, get in, buy what you need and get out.</s>WILLIS: So, once -- I want to get this in, because I think it's important. You say one-stop shopping, beware if you're going to one store to get cleaning items as well as food. You're probably spending too much.</s>GRAINGER: The household items at the grocery story are often marked up 20 to 50 percent more, so go to the grocery store to buy your groceries, watch out for those other items.</s>WILLIS: Great ideas. Appreciate your help, today. Thank you, Holley.</s>GRAINGER: Great to be here. Thank you.</s>WILLIS: Great advice. Well, there's another way to save money and get fresh local produce and it's not at your supermarket. It's called Community Supported Agriculture. I visited a local farmer to find out how it works.</s>WILLIS (voice-over): Zachary and Jason Lubenski (ph) love their veggies. But, why are they picking up their vegetables from Ed McDougal's garage? The Lubenski's are part of a growing number of consumers joining CSAs, Community Supported Agriculture programs. Their vegetables come from here, Golden Earthworm Organic Farm.</s>MAGGIE WOOD, COLDEN EARTHWORM ORGANIC FARM: CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture and it's a very unusual relationship between farmers and consumers. It's a very direct relationships, so we grow the food and we give it to you and you eat the food.</s>WILLIS: Here's how it works. Each spring CSA members pay for the share of the farm's produce for the year. Their money helps the farmer pay for seed, fertilizer and other needs for the growing season. (on camera): Look! (voice-over): Then, throughout the summer, consumers pick up their shares each week from designated delivery locations.</s>WOOD: It creates stabilities for the farmer, because we get money at the beginning of the season when we need it, so you pay in advance and then you reap the bounty every single week.</s>WILLIS: CSA programs have grown dramatically in the U.S. The movement started in the mid-1980s and the USDA estimates that today more than 12,000 farms throughout the country market products this way. (on camera): That's good. I'm having a little salad. (voice-over): Ed McDougal's garage has been a delivery point for Golden Earthworm CSA for six years. He says 100 people pick up their veggies here every week.</s>ED MCDOUGAL, CSA MEMBER: A lot of people bring their children. And I just think it's kind of nice for kids, early on, to learn early on something about healthy eating.</s>WILLIS: CSA members say they like knowing exactly where their food is grown and getting to know the farmer who produces it and they love the fresh quality.</s>DOROTHY AKHAND, CSA MEMBER: I wanted fresh vegetables, locally, and you can't get any fresher than this because they were picked either this morning or yesterday.</s>WILLIS (on camera): Do they taste better?</s>AKHAND: Yes, definitely taste better.</s>WILLIS: Now, that you're getting the best deals on grocery for your holiday weekend, what about stocking the bar? Gary Vaynerchuk is here to help you pair wines with your menu and your budget. All right Gary, what you got?</s>GARY VAYNERCHUK, WINELIBRARYTV.COM: All right, we're going look at Portugal, white wines that rock and more importantly understanding that price has no impact on quality, under $15 for the summer.</s>WILLIS: Love that, all right, stay with us.