Grocery query - cheap meat

[scooterbug44]

Does anyone have a good local source/been comparison shopping for meat? I don't mind paying extra for the convenience of the 395 or Sandestin Publix, but the recent price hike (basically DOUBLED) is where I draw the line.

I know summer is coming, but seriously! The lamb chops I got out of my freezer for dinner (purchased 4/18 and broiled instead of grilled so I didn't start any fires) were cheaper than the "stew" meat I saw friday and half the current price of sirloin! It is now cheaper to go to a restaurant and order a Ny strip than to buy it raw at Publix!

I've been trying to figure it out, it's not a beef/ethanol/corn issue as all meat has skyrocketed, and it appears to be a local phenomenon. My father (a retired meat packer) has no explanation either (beyond his usual commentary on inflated prices in the area) and he is usually one of the first to hear of major pricing changes etc.

I had a friend on her cell read me the prices at Bruno's and they were comparable to the Publix prices - haven't checked out other stores yet.

Any suggestions for me that don't involve Wal-mart (a.k.a. the anti-christ), vegetarianism, or a chest freezer/meat pilgrimages?

 

[seacrestkristi]

What about good ole Winn Dixie? ;-)or the Carousel?

 

[Franny]

The meat at the Carousel in PCB is very good..don't about convenience.

 

[Smiling JOe]

It is a fuel thing for sure. The cost of fuel used to grow the corn feed for all meats, added to the fuel costs for transporting the meats from the slaughter houses, to a distributor, then to the grocery, that is what I believe is driving up the price of all meats. I wrote this a year or so ago in a post on here, after the gas prices continued to stay at double the price. I still believe it to be true. Shipping often cost more than the products when it comes to food.

 

[beachmouse]

I guess the best thing to do is keep an eye on the weekly sales flyers. Seems like someone's often running some sort of meat special as a loss leader.

 

[Phoenix Rising]

If you're going to Fort Walton Beach or PCB, you might want to try Sam's club. Also, Walmart usually has good prices because they buy in mass quantity. If you're looking for quality organic free range meats, I order mine online at www.blackwing.com. I keep a small freezer stocked with organic meat from blackwing and the quality is always incredible.

 

[scooterbug44]

It is a fuel thing for sure. The cost of fuel used to grow the corn feed for all meats, added to the fuel costs for transporting the meats from the slaughter houses, to a distributor, then to the grocery, that is what I believe is driving up the price of all meats. I wrote this a year or so ago in a post on here, after the gas prices continued to stay at double the price. I still believe it to be true. Shipping often cost more than the products when it comes to food.

That was what I originally thought too, but couldn't find any evidence for it. Higher fuel costs would drive everything else up too. They had also been expecting beef prices would go up because of higher feed costs meaning farmers were delivering leaner animals and not fattening them as much at the feed lots. The monthly USDA data on retail meat prices doesn't come out for a couple more days, but prices went down slightly in the previous month and the local prices are still quite a bit higher than the average.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Higher fuel costs would drive everything else up too.

Higher fuel costs hits the food industry the hardest because of the farmers' have to pay for the fuel to plant and harvest the crops, plus the transportation to a broker, then shipping to distribution centers, and then distribution to the grocery store. Regarding prices of everything going up, a 12 oz bag of Starbucks went from $6.99 to $9+ overnight when the gas prices went up. I see many products with increased pricing, from the food industry to the construction industry. Don't think the that the laborers driving from Defuniak Springs are simply going to obsorb the extra costs of fuel. They will pass it on to the Sub-Contractors, who will pass it to the contractors, who willl pass it to the home-owners, all the while the Gov't is taxing that increase at every level.

 

[rapunzel]

I have to say I don't agree that the meat price spike is related to fuel costs. I was in New Orleans last week, and the grass fed beef and free range chicken was less expensive at the Uptown Whole Foods than at the Watercolor Publix. I think it's just a case of supply and demand. The demand around here is way up, it's that time of year. Yeah, Publix could anticipate that and keep prices in line, but they have to pay for 6 months of operating at a loss in the off season during the next three months.

When I was little, the first stop on the annual pilgrimage to the beach was a grocery store in Columbus, Ga, where we would pack a cooler with meat and buy a weeks worth of groceries to bring with us. Perhaps Publix is just trying to revive that old tradition?

 

[InletBchDweller]

I dont know if you have a freezer or not but on 15th street there is a grocery outlet. I (and mr. ibd) have found some WONDERFUL meat there and great prices. :clap_1: They will cut what you want or some is already in the case. It is by far not publix (cliental) but good prices at a fraction of the cost. Last night I had a filet mig. that we bought from there and froze. It was still tender as could be and did not cost me 11-15 a pound.