Posted by Seattle Mom2one at 8/18/08 6:40 p.m.

What this article is NOT showing is the quality of the items bought.
Was any of the food organic, fare trade?
What was the food's country of origin (Mexico, China, or local NW farms)?
Did they buy store name brands?
Was any of the food close to expiration dates or expired date (not enough to make you sick but food close to those dates have lost most, if not all, dietary value, if the food had any value to begin with -- which processed foods do not)?
If the food is slowly killing you, and affordable health coverage is crashing as fast as food prices are rising, a 3rd question should be would you drive further for real food?

Posted by unregistered user at 8/18/08 6:54 p.m.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I hate shopping at Trader Joes. Not because it is expensive, but more because they never have everything I need.

I only have limited time, and I expect any grocery store to have my groceries, and basics of household supplies such as laundry soap, light bulbs, that stuff.

Posted by Seattlejo at 8/18/08 10:49 p.m.

Seattle Mom2one
Why would they bias this? Do you think thye'd get rotten food in White Center to show that the prices are lower? Do you really not believe that shopping at Trader Joes and PCC is more expensive then shopping at Safeway in White Center?

Consumers checkbook looked this over two years ago and found drastic differences between chains. It doesn't surprise me that the are the shop is in makes a difference. I saw this this weekend between Central Market in Shoreline and Town and Country in Ballard. Town and Country was more expensive.

Posted by Will in Seattle at 8/19/08 4:03 p.m.

Good point Seattle Mom2one.

Posted by unregistered user at 8/21/08 11:02 a.m.

I shop at WinCo Foods in Kent about once a month for a few items - a couple are only sold by them in this region (Don Pancho tortilla chips, ie), but I also save a lot of $ that week I travel there.

I used to go every other week but stopped when fuel prices stayed over $3/gal. I usually combine my trip with a trip to IKEA in Renton and sometimes for slightly less expensive gas at Arco down 212th from WinCo Foods.

I used to live in a neighborhood with a Fred Meyer supermarket (this was Portland) across the street and a Trader Joe's nearby. Since relocating to Seattle, I'm amazed at what low prices TJ's offers. I didn't know what I was missing out on before. However, as the poster mentioned above, they don't always have everything... fortunately most Trader Joes are within feet of a mainstream grocer, generally.

Fortunately since I drive, I can make these shopping decisions. I do not envy people that have to walk up to 15th Ave E from lower Capitol Hill to try to save some money at Safeway over QFC. Even the new Kress IGA downtown seems more affordable on staple items!