Crazy Grocery Prices - Due to Loonie tanking.

[Frugalbigmama]

But when our weather gets better, Ontario produce will be available at reasonable prices. Those who can freeze, can or keep in a cold cellar will be able to have lots of cheap veggies over winter.

Yes! I'm not wasting valuable garden space when I can buy 10 LBs of onions (red and yellow) for .99 cents a bag!

[matty's mom]

Yes! I'm not wasting valuable garden space when I can buy 10 LBs of onions (red and yellow) for .99 cents a bag!

I agree! Last year I decided to buy fresh veggies in season ( therefore cheaper) and put all of my garden to use for the winter. I grew peppers, tomatoes and herbs. As the tomatoes harvested, I would make either tomato sauce, pizza sauce, or chili based sauce and froze it, in meal size. I have enough that it will take us from October to at least March. (we use one container a week).

We love coloured peppers but they get so expensive this time of year. I have fresh frozen for my stir frys, chilis, casseroles etc.

I will have more time this year, so I may have expand my garden so that I can blanch veggies for freezing as well.

[Frugalbigmama]

I agree! Last year I decided to buy fresh veggies in season ( therefore cheaper) and put all of my garden to use for the winter. I grew peppers, tomatoes and herbs. As the tomatoes harvested, I would make either tomato sauce, pizza sauce, or chili based sauce and froze it, in meal size. I have enough that it will take us from October to at least March. (we use one container a week).

We love coloured peppers but they get so expensive this time of year. I have fresh frozen for my stir frys, chilis, casseroles etc.

I will have more time this year, so I may have expand my garden so that I can blanch veggies for freezing as well.

That is exactly what we are doing! Growing all the stuff to make pasta sauce (and some soups etc) and the veggies we can freeze etc for winter use. We are in the middle of a snowstorm/squalls and I was just thinking that I want to plan the garden on date night Friday night! (Dinner made at home with usually way too much wine!)
We are using our Canadian Tire money to get plants etc so I was happy to get gas today and receive $1.60 in CT $

[Frugalbigmama]

I agree! Last year I decided to buy fresh veggies in season ( therefore cheaper) and put all of my garden to use for the winter. I grew peppers, tomatoes and herbs. As the tomatoes harvested, I would make either tomato sauce, pizza sauce, or chili based sauce and froze it, in meal size. I have enough that it will take us from October to at least March. (we use one container a week).

We love coloured peppers but they get so expensive this time of year. I have fresh frozen for my stir frys, chilis, casseroles etc.

I will have more time this year, so I may have expand my garden so that I can blanch veggies for freezing as well.

Did you start any seeds indoors last year?

[Ciel]

Some produce is grown in Ontario hydroponic garden operations. I did not see Ontario grown English cucumbers but rather Mexican ones in the produce aisle.
It's going to be a creative produce time this winter. 69 US cents for one Cdn $-ow!
Anyone who canned or pickled things last summer must be really happy to have a stash of ready eating on hand.

When you reach for the $2.50 cauliflower heads, some heads need minimal trimming of brown spots but other heads (after you trim the big stalks) might only have about 1/2 head of useful florets after all trimming is done. This is the last week that I buy reduced cauliflower for roasting. Going to look for deals on other root vegetables (peeled and chopped the rest of my bag of carrots last night).

[matty's mom]

Did you start any seeds indoors last year?

Last year, no. The year before, yes. It came down to time. This year, I will do seeds again. I think.


On a different note, I was in my local no frills talking to the man refilling the pork ribs on sale. He told me that they had not ordered enough for the sale for the weekend. It caught them off guard, I think. I teased him saying that with cauliflower @ $5.97 people are desperate to save money. He responded saying that it isn't the worst. They have decided not to order pomegranates to the store as they are now $4.00 each. I was shocked. I wonder what that means for juice?

[Natalka]

[seylz_gurl]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/loon...osts-1.3399841

Jan 12 article from cbc

[scouponer]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/loon...osts-1.3399841

Jan 12 article from cbc

yikes did you see the prices in Nunavut. A bag of pasta was $5.99, orange juice $15. Milk $10, tide $30.

[Shwa Girl]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/loon...osts-1.3399841

Jan 12 article from cbc

I think that these prices have been that way in Nunavut for a very long time --> not just this year.

[seylz_gurl]

^yep, I remember hearing a lg. jar of Cheese Whiz could cost $29 in Nunavut, whoo!

[SassyAshley]

A family member's cleaning lady's daughter was living in Nunavut and the list of things she missed eating because she could not afford them was quite long. 5 lb bag of potatoes was $30.

[endi2000]

Fresh produce and fruits are generally more expensive during winter months...

AGREED!

Try grocery shopping on the west coast - since we moved here - 12 years ago - our brocolli, cauliflower and celery etc - are sold by the POUND. Although I just that our cauliflower, right now, is 'each' - ($5.00 for not a bad size). I don't think that is much more than what was being offered in the summer @ up to 1.99/ lb

[lilo0003]

I was shopping at RCSS on Sunday & I have never seen so many people phone in hand price matching. The cashier I had said 50% of the shoppers were PMing now.

[GatineauGirl]

So many shoppers price-matching...wow!