I Think My Grocery Store Is Trying To Kill Me
By: Thomas Shuck
There is one part of daily life I feel in my bones has changed for the worse over the last several decades, and that has been my shopping experience. I am not referring to my online adventures, which offer their own host of challenges, but the everyday task of purchasing food from the store. There is a creeping feeling that the issue will only continue to deteriorate as time goes “buy” (incorrect word usage/pun done on purpose). Fewer employees? Labor shortage? How about reducing the number of check-out aisles to just a single bottleneck at the big box retailer on a Saturday? Feels like purgatory.
No problemo! I’ll just use the self checkout… until the demanding robot lady authoritatively instructs me to move things from the cart back to the counter… not to mention having to stare at the screen viewpoint from the overhead security camera zooming onto my balding head (I guess the angle of the camera helps to reduce theft??). If the goal is to make me feel self-conscious, then mission accomplished!
(Ummm, yikes)
Several months ago, I was visiting a big box store when I discovered some terrible truths that dampened my usual Saturday morning spirits. The fully organic and natural nuts, produce, and other products I had come to enjoy (and purchase in bulk since… well… our family eats) were replaced with what might be considered inferior quality staples from lesser sources. I didn’t want to feed that to my family or myself! A quick inquiry with several stock persons revealed a devastating reality: the store was failing to sell the more expensive “organic” products and had discontinued carrying them for lesser products. Gone were the organic walnuts, pasta, and lettuce.
No big deal. Simply roll on over to the uppity premier supermarket and hand the majority of my paycheck over for what my family needs, right? I wish. Not only does the family not live near such a fancy shopping alternative, but we aren’t about to take out a home equity loan in seeking that option. What should we do in such a scenario when this otherwise mainstay within our lives is suddenly turned upside down? We are foodies after all. Further complicating matters is a lack of alternatives where we are situated. I wouldn’t classify it as a “food desert,” but I’d certainly call it a “food tundra” up here (Maine). What is a family to do?
Initially we tried some of the home meal delivery kits that came across our social media feeds. (Blue Apron and Hello Fresh, to name a couple.) Those were OK, however we felt that the price per portion was a little above what we desired and the sheer amount of waste was off-putting. Don’t get me wrong, with gas prices heading into the stratosphere, ingredients delivered right to our front door felt magical, but 20lbs of boxes and packaging for a couple meals didn’t seem to align with our vision of sustainability. We did find that seeking proteins in bulk from companies like Wild Fork made sense. One box of insulated meats weighing 15–20lbs could be portioned into over a dozen different meals.
But unless you were a born-again cave…person? That option didn’t fulfill the family’s nutritional needs. So, in the face of such overwhelming adversity, we decided to seek out alternatives to our big box addiction. Here are several solutions we’ve worked out:
1. Local farmers markets: In lieu of seeking organic vegetables and products from the supermarkets, we’ve opted to choose locally grown produce that’s available from our town’s farmers market. The family loves perusing the seasonal offerings and we enjoy modifying our dishes to match whatever the local in-season fare allows. Having young ones assures us of an early morning on Saturdays, so why not spend some time at the market? The social aspect of the market also helps keep up appearances while giving everyone an appreciation that shopping for food comes from PEOPLE who PRODUCE the food… not just a bin at the town supermarket. Building personal relationships with local farmers isn’t a bad idea, either. But more on that later.
2. But what if my Saturdays are busy and I can’t make it to the market? Those soccer games, household projects, or a mere desire for some morning relaxation instead of trekking to the market can jeopardize the whole food plan. When the schedule is tight, a farm share or community supported agriculture share (CSA) acts as an alternative for acquiring locally produced fruits and veggies. If crowds aren’t for you, a CSA also helps avoid the demanding frenzy of the market. This is also helpful when scheduling demands a late arrival and I’m left with the slim pickins of leftovers. Important point: CSAs are not always advertised at a town’s farmers’ markets. A CSA might be suggested via word-of-mouth before the growing season from the farmer. Typically they offer “whole” or “half” shares of whatever weekly or biweekly yield the farmer is providing. Advantage? A CSA can usually be picked up during a day or two window… during the week. Downside? The consumer is locked into the program for however long it runs… so perhaps just spring or for the entire season. Pick that farmer carefully!
3. The final (and in my opinion the best) option in acquiring produce is going directly to the source. This would involve either the commonplace summertime roadside vegetable stands or (in less trustworthy areas) to drive up Farmer Bob’s driveway to see if it’s possible to purchase their product. This can be challenging and vary greatly upon region. Building a relationship with the local farmers and purchasing their goods builds value and appreciation between parties.
Whether it be milk by the gallon, eggs, meat or produce, stopping by their farm and patronizing them directly can be highly gratifying. Why? Stopping by a farm and seeing the work and energy that goes into producing whatever the purchase may be adds value and satisfaction to the exchange. I am compensating the farmer not just for the cow and its feed or for the ear of corn, but for the fertilizer, watering, the effort and energies the farmer puts into producing that item. In essence, we are experiencing firsthand what it takes to bring a product to market… a far cry from the current producer-supermarket-consumer arrangement that countless consumers depend upon.
And this isn’t the end of the rabbit hole. Building upon the relationships we nourish with the farmers can yield other benefits. There might be an opportunity to foster a bartering relationship. Love the meat from a local beef producer? They may cut a break on a larger order like a quarter or half cow. One final bit of advice: When YOU find a farmer who has the best of something, ask them what other local farmers or producers THEY recommend. Chances are they maintain similar quality controls and you’ll find just as superb products from those farmers as well.
Happy hunting!
