Market vs Supermarket?

ScarlettsMummy

Hey everyone!
Me and my other half are considering buying our meat and vegetables from the local market in town instead of the supermarket due to cost. However, I've never bought meat and veg from a market, so I'm not entirely sure on prices. Can anyone tell me whether it would be cheaper or more expensive?

Lily-Lu

You're better going along and having a look. Sometimes the fruit/vegetable stalls' are cheaper, but not always. Butchers' stalls, again will depend on the individual seller.

Unfortunately, we don't have a local market, but from what I hear from my Sister, who does; she's had some great bargains of vegetables/fruit when it was nearing packing-up time.

[Deleted User]

I like F&V from a market but I don't think I would fancy meat as I don't know how long they have had it .i am lucky that I have an excellant butchers near to me or failing that I buy from Sainsbobs fresh meat counter ,a bit dearer but very good quality.I don't like Tesco's meat as I think it looks a bit odd under their lighting and I never buy prepacked meat as i'm not keen on anything that has been wrapped in plastic.

Linda32

Well, Depending on your market of course, I've personally never got on very well with our market, you do get quite alot for your money, ours does the big bowls for £1.00 at the end of the day, as someone has said.

But, you tend to get too much, these only the two of us here, great if you have a big family. But then again, in these bowls, you don't seem to get a mixed bowl (like a fruit bowl) for £1.00, you might get a big bowl of toms, then a big bowl of oranges. You get the picture.

Veg wise, I guess you could freeze it, but supermarkets are pretty cheap anyway, if you have a sainsburys near you, they do brilliant offers at the moment, for example, various bag of sprouts/carrotts/parsnips etc between £1.00 - £1.20 buy 2 cheapest free. :money:

I've tried a few times shopping at independent shops, greengrocers, bakers, granted a car drive one way, then the other way to get everything else from the supermarket I didn't find it cheaper.

foxgloves

We always get our fruit & veg from the local market. In 8 years of living here, the only things we've bought that weren't up to scratch were 2 cucumbers that went soft in a couple of days and some pears that turned out to be over-ripe when we got them home. We usually buy 2 or 3 big bag-4-life size carrier bags of stuff from the same stall and it mostly costs around 8 quid. Lots of the veg is grown in Lincs, so low on food miles & they are fine if you just want a couple of big mushrooms, 2 tomatoes or a couple of chillies. My Mum couldn't believe they were selling her favourite pink lady apples 3lbs for 1.20 so bought loads to take home with her.

mrs_motivated

I buy alot of fruit and veg from a local farm shop (not as cheap as the market, but generally cheaper and more tasty than the supermarket). i also grow alot (even cheaper and easy too), although I know that isnt an option for everyone.

Like anything if you go to the market - you need to shop around and get to know the traders, if you are a regular you will get the best produce.

I dont get meat from the market - I tend to get this from a local farm and a friend who happens to be am master butcher (lucky me)...

Paulie'sGirl

Hi,

I buy my meat from the butcher in my home town (about 15 miles away) when I visit my parents. It does cost more than the supermarket, but I prefer to pay more for the quality. I've never, ever had an issue with his meat, and I know his processes (I was a Saturday girl there whilst at 6th form).

We visit the Grainger Market in Newcastle as often as we can for fruit and veg. For choice, quality and cost they're unbeatable. I would say it depends greatly on the market itself though. The indoor market at Durham is rubbish in comparison.

PGxx

CupOfChai

There's a fruit and veg stall on the street here that seems largely cheaper than the local supermarket, from what I've seen. Annoyingly it's only on during time I'm at work so can't get to it. It does depend on the individual places though, I've also seen markets/greengrocers etc that cost the same or more.

Hilariously (well to me at least), said stall sets up almost directly outside the supermarket!

zippychick

As this has dropped down the OS board, I've moved it to Shopping and groceries

thanks
ZIp
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kippers

(I'm sure there has been threads on this subject before somewhere)

I live in Leicester and they market is hugh. However, everytime i have bought from the market i seem to get veg that only lasts a day or two and rotten stuff in the bottem of the bag, so i stopped shopping there.

narabanekeater

Kippers snap. I always get served from the back so now I dont bother
I did once ask if I could pick my own but got snapped at