Organic food in supermarkets

Edwardia

Went to Sainsbury's with my mother..

Sainsbury's SO organic butter 250g is up from 1.49 to 1.60, which is more than the price of President on Ocado !

My haul included:
Heinz Classics organic cream of tomato soup 400g 96p now 5 fot the price of 4 save 96p for OH
Rachel's organic yogurts 450g 2 for $3 saved 50p for OH
Sainsbury's SO organic red grapes 2.50 2 for $4 saved $1 for OH
Sainsbury's wild Alaskan salmon fillets reduced from $3 to 1.99 so my mother and I picked up 3 each for freezer
Ecover aloe vera and something washing up liquid 1.53 each buy 2 save 1.06
Ecover Under the Sun fabric conditioner $2 but 2 save 1.50
Honeyrose organic carrot cake was 2.69 reduced to 1.79 (for freezer for OH)
Ecover multi surface cleaner 2.24
Ecover all purpose cleaner 2.48
Sainsbury's 20 recycled tie top garbage bags 2.50
Sainsbury's SO organic lamb steaks $6 for freezer
Sainsbury's SO organic sirloin steak $7 for freezer
Sainsbury's SO organic rump steak $5 for freezer
Sainsbury's SO organic celery 1.20
Sainsbury's SO organic onions and chestnut mushrooms both $1
Sainsbury's SO organic leeks and young spinach both $2
Sainsbury's SO organic spring onions 85p
Sainsbury's SO organic Royal Gala apples (5) for OH
Sainsbury's SO organic chilled orange juice (not from concentrate) 1 litre 2.25 bit cheaper than Grove ! For OH
PS Marina marinated mushrooms 1.49 Polish no nasties
Mlevokita Maslo Polskie 200g 1.25 Polish butter

Think with that lot plus Riverford on Friday and Abel & Cole Monday can miss out Ocado at the weekend.

Woman in front of me was staring at my stuff on conveyor all the time. Bugs me.. :mad:

Edwardia

frugal_shopper posted this online butcher up on another thread and I thought it might be useful http://fieldpower.webs.com/apps/webstore/

http://www.graigfarm.co.uk/
Think I did post this one up before and may have mentioned which processor bought it. Graig has teamed up with Tesco to offer a big range of products from sausages to joints. There's a 20% discount code on this website. Not currently on offer with Tesco and Tesco requires notice for orders ie you can't order for next day delivery. But who knows what kind of deal Tesco has struck so I suggest comparing prices. Wyke Farms sell their cheese online but Iceland has them on offer much cheaper.

frugal_shopper advocates not buying supermarket meat. I stopped buying organic beef mince months before Chevalgate because I wasn't happy with the quality. I have stopped buying organic diced beef from Sainsbury's, again because I was disappointed.

I wonder whether supermarkets are buying down to a price rather than up to a quality and maybe wanting shoppers to go for their Taste The Difference. Finest and Extra Special ranges for example.

I'm eating more wild fish and game, organic non supermarket poultry and non supermarket meat. The latter I'd like to find locally but won't round here.

Chevalgate makes me want to stick to organic but know where my food comes from and to an extent I can already but want to broaden that,

How about you ?

Edwardia

Where is everybody ? In the immortal words of Delia Smith, let's be havin' you ! (If you haven't seen Delia yelling on the pitch at Norwich FC, you'll likely find it on YouTube).

Got a leaflet from Riverford today about recommending a friend.
So I thought I'd pass on how it works..

You need to give Riverford your name, address, postcode and customer # plus your friend's name, address, postcode, email address and telephone number. Either fill in the form and send it back to Riverford Organic Vegetables, Freepost SWB30557, Buckfastleigh, TQ11 0ZZ or call 01803 762059

You get a $10 credit for each person you recommend when they set up a regular order (alternatively you can ask them to donate $10 to the charity, Send a Cow). If your friend sets up a regular order they will get a free copy of The Riverford Farm Cook Book (RRP 16.99) with their second order.

Please don't PM me though as it wouldn't feel right, making money out of fellow MSErs.

Yeo Valley is doing a competition on website to win two $250 Elemis hampers. You can also get 20% off Elemis products on their website using code YEOVALLEY

frugal_shopper_2

^^
Although this is not exactly a serious article it isn't that far off the mark when it comes to the difference between standard & premium product ranges.
http://www.newsbiscuit.com/2011/07/17/tesco-to-improve-finest-range-by-adding-extra-words/

Supermarkets often seem to put profits over quality. Taking matured beef as an example a supermarket will usually stock wet-aged beef which has lower production costs & a higher profit margin. Wet-aged beef is better than the standard beef they offer but the way it is produced does not result in optimal flavour.
A butcher will usually stock dry hung beef which has higher production costs & a superior flavour but a smaller profit margin as they don't have the buying power a supermarket does & they have to offer it for a similar price to whatever the supermarkets are selling matured beef for in order to compete as they are not guaranteed to have as many customers instore therefore they need to ensure the comparatively few customers they do have are impressed enough with the produce to come back for more.

Kirri

I didn't get that recommend a friend leaflet today and I was showing my mum what I got today who may try them. They delivered early today, I'd only just got back from an appt. Great quality again from the veg box, the fruit bag was bigger than expected and I loved the sourdough though shame about the plastic packaging as it stops the bread from having that really fresh crust (though saves it from going too hard I suppose..). Will have to plan my meals a bit more to make sure all the veg gets used.

Edwardia

frugal_shopper :T did enjoy the article. Most supermarkets are guilty of verbiage. ASDA Extra Special in partnership with Leith's School of Food and Wine prosciutto di Parma is the same as that sold by Lidl (both have the requisite gold crown).

I do feel that something like a wild Alaskan salmon fillet is the same whether it's Tesco Finest or ASDA Smartprice, the only things which may differ would be the size and weight of the fillet, the way it was filleted and the breed of salmon which may not make much difference.

Whereas there is a difference between value mince and organic although maybe not as much in taste terms as one might expect.

ETA Kirri which bakery is your Riverford-delivered sourdough from, Flour Power City Bakery ? Well now you know how to do it ;0

Kirri

^ Yes, Flour Power City Bakery - I do love Sourdough though feel slightly guilty I have never attempted to make it..

Must not make it a habit...

Quasar

Just back from a quick visit to my local Morrisons for cheap vinegar (relax, it's for cleaning purposes only). While there I remembered I was short on garlic so looked at their stock. Conventionally grown garlic bulbs 30p each, organic garlic packet of 2 bulbs 59p. The bulb sizes were the same.

smallblueplanet

Kirri wrote: »

^ Yes, Flour Power City Bakery - I do love Sourdough though feel slightly guilty I have never attempted to make it..

Must not make it a habit...

We made this sourdough starter - just organic wholegrain rye flour (Doves) and water, plus time.

http://www.weekendbakery.com/posts/rye-sourdough-starter-in-easy-steps/

You can keep it in the fridge for ages between using it and 'feeds'.

Have made the pain naturel (and pain rustique) uncomparably yummy!

http://www.weekendbakery.com/posts/sourdough-pain-naturel/

The website has lots of pictures and helpful videos...give it a go.

Kirri

Fantastic guide ^ I love the idea of using the rye as it sounds easier to 'look after'..