Posts Tagged ‘shopping locally’

Lots of food & health bloggers are obsessed with organic this & organic that, that their produce and meats may still be shipped from so far away that the fuel, packaging, etc compromises some of the sustainable promises that go along with organics.  Don’t get me wrong, I support organic agriculture to the fullest, but I think I have an alternative I can feel good about when choosing my groceries…

 

I blogged about my love of McGinnis Sisters in the past, and continue to do so.  I haven’t found another market in Pittsburgh that embraces buying locally aside from McGinnis…

Brunton Dairy is one of the dairy options at McGinnis.  I was initally attracted to this Dairy because of the sustainable glass jugs the milk comes in.  Old school, but practical.  I can return the glass jug to McGinnis, get $1.50 off the next milk purchase, and know that my glass is being reused. 

Just 45 minutes away, I feel happy knowing the milk is fresh, and my dollars are being spent close to home.  They also have a milk delivery service, but I haven’t gone that far.

 

Eggs.  I am done purchasing eggs that do not come directly from a local farm.  In fact, when I visit my parents, I try to buy my eggs from their neighbor.  My parents moved to a pretty rural area a few years back.  However, I need a substitute when I don’t get out to see them.  Enter Greenawalt Farms. 

Another 45 minute drive, southeast of Pittsburgh will land you on this farm.  While I couldn’t find a website for this farm, I was happy to see that they are closer than I expected.  Their eggs, or at least the ones I’ve seen & purchased at McGinnis are just white—no brown option.  I’m okay with that as well.  I usually only purchase brown eggs while at my parents as they are readily available and cheap (!) about $1.50 a dozen.  Yes, it’s true.

 

Hope this puts things in perspective for everyone!

 

Jared and I are very fortunate to live within walking distance of a local grocery store called McGinnis Sisters.  Giant Eagle (the biggest grocery chain in Pittsburgh) relocated right next to this located several years back.  When you have a great business, it can withstand competition.  When you have a niche, it will also help aide in the longevity.

 

As a South Pittsburgher, I remember driving past this place countless time as a child.  I always asked my mom to stop and check it out but she never did.  I don’t think it was a personal objection, I just think it never interested her.  Then again, good, quality food interests me, so when I started living on my own, I tried it out first thing.

 

I love McGinnis Sisters.  Seriously, there are three in Pittsburgh, go shopping there once.  It is what a grocery store is meant to be.  They buy local produce, stock fresh meats, cheeses, and seafood, and the dairy options are local as well! 

They stock all the great health-foodie items as well!  I know Whole Foods is the buzz grocer, but this is a local niche market that deserves more attention than WF.  Whole Foods is not a buzz grocer to me.

And as far as pricing goes, I think it is fair.  I could go all out and buy lots of gourmet items, or I could balance and spend $30 on groceries for the week for Jared and I, which is what I did…

 Here’s what I got

• Bag of celery ($2)
• Bag of carrots ($2)
• Bananas ($1.50)
• Mozz Cheese ($3)
• Frozen spinach ($1.50)
• Gormet mustard ($2)
• Pizza Crust ($2) (from their freezer… homemade and delish)
• Raisins ($2)
• 2 pork chops ($5)
• 1/2 pnd bacon ($1.50)
• Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Bread Mix ($3)

For $30 I will have the following meals (this includes items I have on hand already)

1. Minestrone Soup (using the veggies)
2. Pizza (using the pizza crust & cheese)
3. Stuffed Pork Chops (using the pork chops and raisins)
4. BLT’s (using the bacon)
5. Breakfast for dinner  (using the bacon, and perhaps the bread mix)

Also, I bought the bread mix to make bagels for go-to breakfasts Jared. 

 

I will re-use the carrots and steam them for pork-chop night.  I will make a simple pizza with basil, mozzarella cheese, and tomato sauce.  The soup I will eat through-out the week. I’ll post recipes for everything eventually…

 

This is Jared’s response to me telling him to go study…

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