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Dollar Days: Markets selling items for $1 a pound or less
By Bobbie Whitehead
Not your typical dollar store, but some area markets and growers have fresh greens and other vegetables for $1 a pound or less.
As retail prices continue to climb despite the decrease in gas costs, buying low-priced produce from a local market might mean bigger savings all around to make healthy and fresh cuisine.
At B&H Produce in Suffolk, operating on Main Street, greens such as collards and kale sell for $1 a pound, says Howard Piland, owner and grower.
“I try not to go over $1 a pound,” Piland said. “On the Hanover, kale, collards and mustard greens, this is the regular price.”
But Piland adds that even though the gas prices have dropped, consumers may have to wait a while longer before they see food prices elsewhere such as grocery stores drop from the 2008 food-price hikes.
Not your typical dollar store, but some area markets and growers have fresh greens and other vegetables for $1 a pound or less.
As retail prices continue to climb despite the decrease in gas costs, buying low-priced produce from a local market might mean bigger savings all around to make healthy and fresh cuisine.
At B&H Produce in Suffolk, operating on Main Street, greens such as collards and kale sell for $1 a pound, says Howard Piland, owner and grower.
“I try not to go over $1 a pound,” Piland said. “On the Hanover, kale, collards and mustard greens, this is the regular price.”
But Piland adds that even though the gas prices have dropped, consumers may have to wait a while longer before they see food prices elsewhere such as grocery stores drop from the 2008 food-price hikes.
“I didn’t go up on my greens because I wanted to keep the price at $1, even though the gas prices were costing me double for what they had been costing me to buy the seed and other items to plant and grow vegetables,” Piland said.
Piland said he’s found higher prices on supplies and seed as suppliers passed on the freight costs to the growers.
Along with $1 a pound greens, Piland also has sweet potatoes selling less than $1 a pound, and customers can buy peanuts and turnips for $1 a pound at B&H Produce.
In Courtland at Grayson and Emma’s Garden Spot, Neil Drake, too, has produce selling for $1 a pound and under. For example, onions are $1 a pound, and both Eastern Shore potatoes and collards there are selling for a buck a pound, too, the market reports.
Drake also has sweet potatoes for under a dollar a pound.
For customers not wanting to cook their own collards, they can try buying them already cooked at Grayson and Emma’s, and of course, the Courtland market also has cooked dumplings, pecans, peanuts, rutabagas and kale. (Check the prices on these.)
Though the holidays may be over, customers can save on time buying homemade Cole slaw, chicken, crab or potato salad as well as barbecue that Drake sells.
In Surry County, Lafayette Powell of Deerhaven Farm has collards and cabbage selling for $1 a pound while supplies last, he said.
“This is my year-end clearance,” Powell said.
Though customers may be searching for year-end bargains, some growers have begun gearing up for the next season’s harvests.
Powell said Deerhaven Farm will have some new tomato varieties being produced this year.
“Look for organically-grown tomatoes to be available the first week of May,” he said.
Over in Whaleyville, Edmond Morris still has sweet potatoes that he’s selling for 50 cents a pound, and in about a week, Morris said he’ll have plenty of other fruits and vegetables.
While growers and markets offer good deals on produce, customers should call ahead to make sure products are still available.
Piland said he’s found higher prices on supplies and seed as suppliers passed on the freight costs to the growers.
Along with $1 a pound greens, Piland also has sweet potatoes selling less than $1 a pound, and customers can buy peanuts and turnips for $1 a pound at B&H Produce.
In Courtland at Grayson and Emma’s Garden Spot, Neil Drake, too, has produce selling for $1 a pound and under. For example, onions are $1 a pound, and both Eastern Shore potatoes and collards there are selling for a buck a pound, too, the market reports.
Drake also has sweet potatoes for under a dollar a pound.
For customers not wanting to cook their own collards, they can try buying them already cooked at Grayson and Emma’s, and of course, the Courtland market also has cooked dumplings, pecans, peanuts, rutabagas and kale. (Check the prices on these.)
Though the holidays may be over, customers can save on time buying homemade Cole slaw, chicken, crab or potato salad as well as barbecue that Drake sells.
In Surry County, Lafayette Powell of Deerhaven Farm has collards and cabbage selling for $1 a pound while supplies last, he said.
“This is my year-end clearance,” Powell said.
Though customers may be searching for year-end bargains, some growers have begun gearing up for the next season’s harvests.
Powell said Deerhaven Farm will have some new tomato varieties being produced this year.
“Look for organically-grown tomatoes to be available the first week of May,” he said.
Over in Whaleyville, Edmond Morris still has sweet potatoes that he’s selling for 50 cents a pound, and in about a week, Morris said he’ll have plenty of other fruits and vegetables.
While growers and markets offer good deals on produce, customers should call ahead to make sure products are still available.
Cabbage, among other items, is selling for $1 a pound or less at area markets where dollar deals have been popular.
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