Grocery Store "Specials"

[Devany]

Kathy, I totally understand your need for just the basics at the lowest prices and not needing them to be local or special items. I can also understand being on such a budget where driving that far is prohibitive. In that case, the Hilo Farmer's Market should be your best bet. It is cheaper, fresher and easier than going in a grocery store, even if you are buying from the people who buy from the wholesalers and co-op.

I think I live farther from Waiema than you (don't you live North of me?), and it only costs me about $8 in gas and 50 minutes each way to go there. I only go once a month unless we have a reason to go there for other things. Because their grocery stores are far superior to ours as are their restaurants and beaches, we usually make a day of it, ending up with a picnic and swim at Spencer Beach and then to go visit friends in Honokaa on the way back. Sometimes Wes plays golf up there while I am doing errands. When Wes does not come with me, I usually bring 3-4 friends and they make an outing of it with me. The Waimea markets have things that are simply impossible to find here, things like Veal Bones for stock, ground lamb, Mock Chew's fresh Poi, celery root (one of my favorite things), baby beets in several colors, baby carrots in several colors, baby romaine, fresh from the field Waimea strawberries, fresh local artichokes, bread hot from a wood burning oven, fresh edamame, green garlic etc. There is no place I can find those things in Hilo, at any price. Aside from that I am often at different locations around the island doing articles for the magazine, so I can often parlay that into a trip to a superior farmer's market or grocery.



Aloha au i Hawai`i,
devany

www.myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com
www.eastbaypotters.blogspot.com

[csgray]

Devany,
You forgot Maku'u Market on Sundays! While there are some of the same resale produce booths as at the Hilo market, there are also small growers who sell nowhere else. The exotic fruit and honey guy has fruit no one else has, there are really good organic tomatoes, greens, and melons, and all kinds of other goodies. Plus: amazing plants, $5 orchids grown in Kalapana, home made donuts, Live music, good food booths and funky used stuff. Something for everyone.

Carol

[JonP]

IMO the Maku'u market is all that and more.

[missydog1]

yeah, I like the Maku'u market although I liked it more a few years ago when it wasn't so crowded.

I'm not too big on dealing with crowds on Sunday. It's my quiet at home day.
When I hit the Hilo market it's on Wednesday afternoon when it's winding down.
Ever since I moved to Hawai'i I've been crowd avoidant.
I spent years pushing my way down Telegraph Ave (Berkeley) and sitting in lectures with 300 other people, and going to lots of massive concerts ... and now ... I balk at a full parking lot. Boy, I sure have changed.

Back to the market specials, I don't look at the specials in the paper so I didn't realize they start on Wednesday, lol. I like Safeway. It's true they don't always restock, but they have plenty of club card savings that come around all the time. I like Safeway because the KTA at Puainako and the SacknSave both stink like fish that isn't adequately refrigerated. I cannot handle the smell.

Not just me. My son can't stand the stink either. Safeway is the cleanest one too.
I like the Foodland in Waimea but it is expensive.

Disclaimer: the older I get the less I like to cook, so I'm not looking for anything amazing.
I have very simple tastes in food except for holidays and special occasions.

[Devany]

Carol,

True, but it does not qualify as a Farmer's Market. Though Richard Ha's booth is a recent exception. We were just about to take them off of our list because they are more of a flea market, then Richard went there. Now we are trying to decide if we will keep it on our list. I also did not mention the Pahoa Market, which is more of a genuine farmer's market. And talk about orchids, I love the $2 box that lady has every time!

Maku'u is a fun place and there are some bargains, but it is not really a farmer's market. It should be. The reason it actually was accepted by our magazine before I worked there was because it was on Hawaiian Homelands Farm Land. It is a fun and crazy place to visit though.

quote:

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Originally posted by csgray

Devany,
You forgot Maku'u Market on Sundays! While there are some of the same resale produce booths as at the Hilo market, there are also small growers who sell nowhere else. The exotic fruit and honey guy has fruit no one else has, there are really good organic tomatoes, greens, and melons, and all kinds of other goodies. Plus: amazing plants, $5 orchids grown in Kalapana, home made donuts, Live music, good food booths and funky used stuff. Something for everyone.

Carol

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Aloha au i Hawai`i,
devany

www.myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com
www.eastbaypotters.blogspot.com