Market Fruit and Veg, cheaper? Better?

Bitsy_Beans

My nearest market is Birmingham Wholesale and whilst it can be quite cheap it's a 30 min drive for me (in rush hour), then I have to pay for parking, I'd need a trolley on wheels just to carry it all (so more expense) and most of the stalls you can't pick your own. The quality wasn't too bad last time I went but the sheer logistics of it means it's not really feasible for me to use it - the cost in petrol and parking etc would just increase the cost.

redlady_1

I love Riverford however, the quality does vary from supplier to supplier (when you move house). I guess its the same as anything, you just have to keep looking and see what works for you.

shelley_crow

my local thursday market used to really good, then they stopped the customer picking their own.

I found a smaller market stall just up the road and the quality has been fantastic and it's cheaper.

Optimisticpair

It is very variable. My local Coop is expensive and produce lasts the same amount of time as Aldi's but organic is limited. My local Farmer's market isn't cheap and again it is a case of using petrol to go there so I've started growing my own.

Trinny

Hi There

Our local market is in a fairly well off town. Even in the last hour of the day - they "drop" their prices to £1 for a cauli:eek:, and its not even organic.

This is what i do, as our market is really expensive, and as fruit and veg are really pricy.

1. I check out Aldi super six weekly, as the featured six are usually a bargain
2. I buy up fruit and veg when morrisons do their price crunch and knock veg etc down to 30p per bag
3. we grow our own - even garlic in flower pots to help save £££
4. You mentioned your farm shop - we buy sacks of spuds, nets of onion and carrot and swede in the autumn, from our farm shop, and they last through the winter with a little careful storage in the garage
5. I forage - right now its possible to get hold of nettles, which among other things make a great spinach substitute.

HTH

Trin

spike7451

Bitsy_Beans wrote: »

My nearest market is Birmingham Wholesale and whilst it can be quite cheap it's a 30 min drive for me (in rush hour), then I have to pay for parking, I'd need a trolley on wheels just to carry it all (so more expense) and most of the stalls you can't pick your own. The quality wasn't too bad last time I went but the sheer logistics of it means it's not really feasible for me to use it - the cost in petrol and parking etc would just increase the cost.

Yup,the same for me too,It's a 20 minute drive to Newtownards for their Saturday market but then you have the problem again for parking,the's only 2 car parks at each end of the town,one which has a free parking section but on Saturday's is filled with market sellers vans.