Food from Farmers markets etc

[jofeb04]

Is it any cheaper then buying it from the local supermarkets, butchers etc?
Ive found a local farmer who sells his own produces, its about 20minutes away, and really want to try it, but worried about additional cost as we dont really have the money etc.

Thanks

[NomDePlume]

I've found veggies etc are more expensive at farmers markets etc. Meat is a little dearer, but you can't compare the quality to the flabby, funny coloured, plastic packed supermarket 'meat'.

[colditz]

I find veg and fruit at my local farmer's market about half the price and much much much fresher. However, the meat is extortionate.

[cupcakes]

The meat is a thousand times more flavoursome and delicious. But is more expensive. I shop at a farmer's market once a month and the rest of the time shop at a local butchers. I am currently cooking lamb from FM: 1kg cost £7.95.

[jofeb04]

Ok, thanks for that.
Might just try it for one week, and see how it goes!

[expatinscotland]

once you get used to eating meat from there or a good butcher, you'll never go back to supermarket again!

omg! the taste is unbelievable.

we don't eat much meat, but what we do eat comes from free-range, local animals.

well worth the extra money and just not eating as much, especially if you can find a good pork farmer/butcher. ours - putting in a plug for ballencrieff farm for those in the edinburgh area! :) - farms british pedigree pigs organically and the taste is out of this world!

[Piffle]

I buy almost all my meat from FM, we now eat less meat but better quality.
We spend about £40 per month usually on 2 x lean steak mince, rump steak for 3 , one lamb shoulder, one pork tenderloin, spare ribs, 2 x diced chicken thigh and one whole chicken.
The pork and chicken and lamb are all organic the beef is free range local rare breed.
We eat vege meals now 3-4 x a week plus we get fish from fishmnonger delivered
I spend less on food now per week than I did shopping solely at Tesco's. this includes the organic veg box.

[expatinscotland]

exactly, piffle!

and you'll find you use the meat more wisely - making sure you find a way to incorporate every last bit into a dish, for example.

[cupcakes]

Now that we are more choosy about what meat we buy we also have ended up spending less than what we used to spend at supermarkets.

[cupcakes]

I always make chicken stock now and use leftovers in pasta dishes.

[expatinscotland]

we now spend WAY less on food than before. we plan our meals very carefully now and have grown to enjoy cooking as a process more - complete w/bottle of wine and music, of course.

[Piffle]

Yes expat, I even made chicken liver pate
And it ws divine

[jofeb04]

Thanks for all the advice. Dh wants us to try it now as well, he was concerned about the cost, but he got excited when i mentioned that the meat (steak is what he loves), is better quality.
Going to go there on tuesday and see what he has!!

[booge]

We buy our meat weekly from an organic farmer who comes to our local WI market. He also does organic veg and eggs and the quality is fantastic. The prices are easily cheaper than the organic equivalent from the supermarket. I love the WI market for cakes and ready meals too as I don't feel guilty serving up a shepherds pie or something made by his wife or the other ladies and their lemon drizzle cake is to die for. Another bonus is all the old ladies fuss over DS.