I went to the grocery store on Saturday as the cupboards were bare and I thought I’d show you what vegetables I bought – and what they cost. Above is the whole batch, glistening with water as they were just washed.
Below is my spreadsheet, both in kilos and pounds as well as pesos and US dollars. I see the most expensive item was the apples – of course, because they were imported, and probably even from Washington! Saturday was not a “sale” day at the store. I shopped at the Mexican-owned and operated Soriana.
With the addition of some peruano beans, brown rice, walnuts, and (forgive me) some wine and chocolate, this produce will keep me happy for most of a week of meals at home.
Debi
November 15, 2011Right now produce is so inexpensive, I too shop at a chain, Chedraui. On Tuesday they get their shipment in and I tend to go on Wednesdays. I just want to buy, buy, buy because stuff is so beautiful and cheap. Last week the Haas Avacados were 14.9 pesos per kilo, I mean…..
I keep calabasa frita made most all the time because of the price of tomatoes, squash and onion. We use it for everything – tacos, dips, side dishes…
oh I could go on and on…..
Debi
Nancy
November 15, 2011I wish I could remember the sale days at the grocery store… seems I often go right afterwards, when there is nothing on the shelves! We live just 4 blocks from the main mercado so I do go there often, too. My NOB habits die hard, though – like going to the store and getting everything at once!
Kristin Busse
November 15, 2011I love this post! I’m not even completely sure why. LOL Great job though Miss Healthy Eater! 🙂
Brenda
November 15, 2011Soriana and the other chain grocery stores here have their offertas day set at Tuesday. Needless to say Tuesday is a very busy day at the store. They have some excellent veggie sales on that day though so if I have time I go. You have to decide whether the deals are worthwhile the long wait in line behind all the other shoppers enjoying the specials also.
I will have to check the prices here to compare, I am ashamed to say that I often don’t check the veggie prices unless it is an imported item like apples. The regular stuff is cheap usually and I don’t worry about it. The prices vary a lot here depending on the growing season, whatever is in season in the fields here is very cheap and other stuff gets higher. Even the higher prices are still cheaper than NOB I would think though.
tancho
November 15, 2011Our big stores like Soriana and Aurrera have pitiful produce for some reason. I have gone numerous times and always find it looking like it’s been sitting out for weeks.
The fresh stuff is definitely at our mercados and is cheaper most of the time. I am quite satisfied with the prices and quality there. Only thing that I miss from NOB is the variety of apples. To get more variety we have to drive to Morelia.
Your pricing is on par with prices inland here.
And we also grow stuff here, seasonally so fresh is good.
Nancy
November 15, 2011Kristin, You are too funny! And just so you know, I just ate a bunch of salt and pepper potato chips. Erp.
Brenda, Yes, I think they do it on Tuesday here too, but usually it is just too hectic at the store to make me want to head there then for the bargains.
Tancho, In the cool mountains I think the mercados are a great place to get your produce. Sometimes when it’s hot here I think the mercado produce looks a bit hot, too. I’m glad that our prices aren’t too out of line with yours.
Trish
November 15, 2011Seedless limes? Are they labeled differently than the ones with seeds? Mine always seem to have seeds, but I guess I assumed they all had seeds!
Nancy
November 16, 2011Hi Trish,
Yes, they are labeled sin semillas (without seeds.) I buy them a lot of the time, they are usually a bit bigger, too.
Kristin
November 16, 2011hi! I’ve been enjoying your blog for quite some time. I was wondering if a lot of what you buy in the grocery stores is locally grown or is it shipped in from other countries? Are organic or chemical-free veggies & fruit an option?
thanks!
Chris
November 18, 2011Oh, I do miss the beautiful, plentiful CHEAP produce of Mexico. I marveled at it the whole two years we lived there and it was one of the big culture shocks moving back to the US!!
Mexico Cooks!
November 19, 2011At the Mexico City tianguis (street market) where I shopped on Friday Nov 18, avocados were 40 pesos/kilo, but they had come down from 70 pesos/kilo. Red delicious apples (imported from Washington State) were 35 pesos/kilo. Bartlett and Bosc pears (also imported from the USA)–I couldn’t resist–were 35 pesos/kilo as well. Michoacán-grown strawberries, 20 pesos/half kilo. Spinach, 10 pesos/kilo.
Most produce is considerably more expensive here than it is in la provincia (the provinces).