Best Place for Well-Priced Produce

[blueberrygirl]

I'm a transplant from California and after living here for three years I still haven't found a place with decently priced, fresh and varied produce. In the summer I go to the University farmers market but where to go the rest of the year? Please don't say Whole Foods. I love this food musuem, especially the new store on Denny, but I can't stomach paying for their produce.

[mrnelso]

:one more: Those Associated Grocer outlets "Cash & Carry") are programmed to serve fishing boats, coffee shops and little cafes, so the fare is very much standard, but the prices are great, the service is good, and you can get 24 packs of hotdog buns with your stainless steel saute pan or a great chef's knife. They know Costco is the competition, so they keep their pencil sharp and their lines short. I think I got a bag of a dozen lemons there for $2 not long ago, cheap romaine, lotsa frozen goodies, and the dairy cooler is bargain-city.

[blueberrygirl]

Thanks everyone for the great ideas. You always comes through!

[creo420]

Top Banana on 15th NW and 65th NW is a good place to go for well priced produce. I can usually find the same stuff at Ballard Market but a lot cheaper at Top Banana.

[caraely]

I second the recommendation for MacPherson's. I shop there all the time and am still amazed at the great prices. They now have some organic produce as well. True, it's often very ripe or not as pretty as high-priced produce, but I have always been satisfied. I've walked out with two huge bags of produce for under $12. When I see lemons selling for 79 cents EACH at QFC I love buying 10 for a dollar at McP's. Great spot.

[SeaFoodie]

Someone has already mentioned Ballard Market. I concur, and will add two others that are part of the same group: Greenwood Market and Central Market (Shoreline) are fantastic. Central is the largest, with greatest selection and very helpful staff. Unsure whether you'll like something before buying it? Ask, and you shall taste! I think that makes a wonderful shopping experience.

[GustavoG]

I often get produce at the various asian grocery stores around 12th and Jackson. I don't think there is much in the way of organics, but it is generally excellent quality and quite a bit less expensive than the chain grocers or markets.

[bergeo]

Sunrise Produce is a few blocks away from the Wholefoods on Roosevelt and has great deals on produce, far cheaper than any store I've been to and still has good quality.

[luvsseattle]

I'll second Trader Joe's and Pike Place Market. I also have decent luck at Thriftways (particulary West Seattle). Also, Tony's product stand in West Seattle is also great.

[southendeater]

I highly recommend MacPherson's Produce on Beacon Hill (on Columbian Way) for well-priced produce. It's a great atmosphere with a wide variety of produce set up in a covered, open-air market. They often have crazy deals, particularly in summer when fresh produce is plentiful. The one caveat is that they often furnish crazy deals by offering produce that really, truly is ripe - avocados that are at their peak today, but won't be in two days. So it's a great place to shop for the next few days, but not to stock up for a few weeks.

[blueberrygirl]

McP's is great but I agree you end up with some ripe stuff. However, you make me think that perhaps I need to stop thinking about stocking up and buying what I need for the next few days like they do in Europe.

[blueberrygirl]

Great ideas, terrier. I actually never thought of Pike Place. Thanks so much.

[terrier]

Uwajimaya and Ballard Market are my favorite supermarkets for produce. The Ballard farmer's market (Sundays on Ballard Ave) often has good stuff as well and is year-round.

Obviously, Pike Place Market gets the very best stuff, but it can be a hassle if you don't live nearby, and it definitely pays to shop around there. I frequently end up with produce from 3 or 4 different stalls when I go there because prices are so variable - Frank's is my standby for most things, and Sosios for the fancy stuff (fresh morels and fiddleheads in season, etc).

[malarkey]

Pike Place Market, Uwajimaya, Ranch 99, Central Market, Trader Joe's.