With fresh snow blanketing the town of Boulder, I walked over to the first Boulder Farmers Market of the year filled with wonder. This early in the season, I had no idea what to expect, and sadly, was a little disappointed. Only about 25% of the assigned vendors attended, many, no doubt, scared off by the snow and predicted high winds (which did not appear).
Most of the available goodies were non-seasonal items, such as spices, oils, and wine. Boulder Soupworks made its first appearance (and seemed to have the largest gathering of patrons) and gave away free samples to all. The warm tomato basil hit the spot!
After the market, I went straight to Whole Foods for a few items and to do a little price comparison:
| Farmers Market | Whole Foods Organic | Whole Foods Conventional | |
| Tomatoes | $3.75/lb | $2.99/lb | $1.99/lb |
| Cucumbers | $3.00/lb | $2.99/lb | $1.99/lb |
| Shiitake Mushrooms | $10/lb | $12.99/lb | — |
| Udi’s Challah Bread | $4.50 | $3.79 | — |
If you are already buying organic food, then by shopping at the farmers market today, you would pay:
- 25% more for tomatoes
- 30% less for mushrooms
- The same for cucumbers
- 20% more for Udi’s Bread (though I think it may have been a special sale)
If you don’t buy organic, then the difference between buying conventional (non-organic) at Whole Foods vs. buying from the farmers market (which is ALWAYS local, and usually organic), you would pay:
- 88% more for tomatoes
- Mushrooms N/A - the only shiitake mushrooms were organic
- 50% more for cucumbers
- Udi’s Bread N/A
Granted, this was the very first day of the market, and hardly anything is actually in season. I will continue to do price comparisons as the season goes along, however, remember what you’re getting at the farmers market: local, usually organic food picked that very same day. I ate Udi’s from Whole Foods throughout the winter, and even though it’s made in Boulder County and shipped to the store at regular intervals, not once was it as good as any loaf I’ve ever purchased from them at the market - where they’ve been baked that very morning.
{ 1 trackback }
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Brrrr - it was cold this morning! Hopefully in the next couple weeks we’ll see some nice spring greens popping up at the market. Love the idea on cost comparison. I have never had a better salad than the fresh greens/microgreens that you get at the market. Makes you feel so healthy and what price can you put on that?
The salad I had last night made of Oxford Gardens fresh greens, was amazing, did not taste like the Whole Foods greens at all. When comparing prices always compare the price after the register the city of Boulder requires sales tax to be charged on food. The farmstands and farmers market include the tax in the price. I am very glad the money spent at the market will go to support local agriculture. I’ll bet those farmers like to spend thier money local too. How much of the money spent at Whole foods goes to Texas?