- Option #1: Hannaford; has a pretty substantial selection of organic fruits and vegetables, though some items can be pricy. Also, it is a tad limiting to the variety of fruits and vegetables you can buy. Great deals are a huge bundle of organic kale for $2.99, a bundle of various organic herbs for $1.79, and unpeeled organic carrots for $2.99.
- Option #2: Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and Market Basket; I haven't had the opportunity to do a whole lot of grocery shopping at these places, but when I get the chance to, I undoubtedly find better deals and often more variety.
- Option #3: Co-ops and Farmer's Markets; I have been doing a vegetable co-op with a local farm every three weeks. I have only bought vegetables from them twice, but both times for about $60, I have gotten an abundance AND variety of vegetables; the share often includes other treats, including a dozen eggs, raw cheese, and fruits like apples and blueberries. I even have tried new vegetables, such as parsnips and celeriac! I buy organic when I shop at the grocery store, but buying directly from a farm feels so much better because you get to support local agriculture and often save money in the process! Farmer's markets in Springvale and Sanford are only in the summer, but they are always a treat to go to, and another great way to support local agriculture.
- Option #4: Grow your own organic garden; I have done some gardening in the past, but this summer I am going to go all out and likely save even more money!
Meat, Fish, Eggs, Dairy
- Option #1: Grocery Store; grocery stores have some selection of organic meats, but they are often pricy. 16 ounces of organic ground beef is around $8+, while organic ground turkey is around $7+. However, they are the only place I have access to fish. For fish, I always buy wild caught over farm-raised. For eggs, Hannaford has organic eggs for $3.99 a doze--which isn't terrible, but not all that great either. Except for fish, I tend to not buy my meats at the grocery store unless it is an emergency.
- Option #2: Local Store; Both One Earth Health Food Store and Keepin' It Local Country Store have local and organic meats available in Shapleigh. The only reason many of the meats aren't certified organic is because many farmers don't have the funds to pay to become certified. At One Earth, ground beef and ground pork from Findview Farm in Gorham is $5.99 a bound; local eggs are 3.79 a dozen. At Keepin' it Local, butter from a Shapleigh farm is $3.00.
- Option #3: Raise some of your own animals; raising cattle is probably not feasible for most of us, but raising your own chickens may be. Otherwise, many people raise chickens and are often willing to sell their eggs at a small price. My dad buys fresh eggs from his secretary at $2.00 a dozen.
- Option #3: Meat Share; this summer for an upfront cost of $275, My mom and I are doing a meat share. It is going to be a ton of meat--and a variety of it--to last us the entire summer. Based on how much I eat right now, it is going to be worth it!