Last week, I spoke with Lou Bendrick, who writes the Checkout Line column at Grist, a site devoted to environmental news and commentary. Bendrick answers reader questions about making “green” food-choices. Recently Karl wrote to ask her:
With the economic crunch, how is it going to be possible to afford healthy foods for my family, especially organics.
Before the interview, I surveyed my Twitter followers for help. I asked: “Do you eat organic? How do you afford healthy food while on a crunched budget? Any tips or tricks?” The responses were fantastic. Here are a few:
.jpg "The local farmers market offers lots of organic options...during the summer")
- @cdwarren wrote: “CSAs are great if you can get one, at least when things are in season. I’m splitting one with a friend this summer.”
- @DeirdreReid wrote: “Farmers markets help. I stick to organic produce/meat and go non-organic for anything processed. That’s been helping budget.”
- @Macheesmo wrote: “Eat less meat. Menu plan. Don’t waste food. Start a garden. Even a few herbs can save you money over time. Those are my big things.”
- @marubozo wrote: “I only eat organic if price difference is negligible. I don’t buy into all of the hype, so I don’t go out of my way to spend more.”
- @annieblue wrote: “Much of my diet is organic, because I’m allergic to corn syrup. The most affordable organic food seems to be in rural areas.”
- @uv_searching recommended a Lifehacker article about getting the most bang for your organic buck.
- @kzer0 wrote: “Only buy in-season. Buying in-season organic can be cheaper than out-of-season conventional.”
- @antsaint wrote: “Discount grocers like Winco & Grocery Outlet have good deals too – Winco organic bulk coffee? $5-6/lb.Leverage bulk bins where poss”
- @amyrobynne summarized a lot of organic-shopping philosophy in 140 characters: “I go through a buying club for dry goods,get most veggies through gardening/CSA, meat in bulk from the farmer.”
- @AmazonGrace wrote: “I shop for organic or fresh vegetables at the local Asian Markets – they’re much cheaper and often better quality.”
There were dozens of other great responses. I wish I could share them all. The bottom line is that when organic is a priority, people find ways to make it work. There are ways to buy organic for less, but you have to be creative. (The same is true no matter what cause is important to you!)
Bendrick and I had a great conversation, though she’d already considered most of my ideas (and the ideas from those I polled on Twitter). In the end, she highlighted nine methods for saving money on organic food, including these:
- Have a plan before you get to the store. Set a budget. Track your spending with a tool like Wesabe. Shop with a list.
- Perform organic triage. Prioritize based on your own values and focus on those areas where organic makes the most sense for you.
- Rethink meat. By reducing your meat intake, you improve your diet and you save money. (This isn’t something I could do.)
- Clip coupons. I’m a fan of coupons, but haven’t noticed many for organic products. Bendrick suggests checking manufacturers’ web sites. Update! In the comments, neeser points to this list of organic coupons.
- Shop strategically. Follow time-tested grocery-shopping tips.
For more tips and for more detail (including advice from Grist readers), check out Bendrick’s article on how to maintain a green, healthy diet on a budget. You might also be interested in GreenCouple.com’s recent post about buying organic on the cheap.
We had a garden when I was a lad, and a huge apple tree. Now my dad still has an apple tree, blueberry bushes, and tons of mint and rosemary.
Fresh rosemary from the backyard makes thanksgiving worlds better, especially if you throw in a fresh mint julep.
I guess you could call it organic, but dad grows all this simply because he likes to. As far as buying organic, I’ve never gone out of my way to. I should give it a try though.
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I’m the kind of person who doesn’t go out of their way to buy organic stuff but I do have a garden in a place where my grandparents used to live – it’s fun to grow your own stuff and the extra benefit is doing some relaxing and healthy garden work – not to mention it saves money.
It’s interesting how I found garden work boring as a kid but now seem to long for it when sitting too much behind the computer!
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It always amazes me when people say they can’t afford to shop at a farmer’s market or to buy organic food, yet they have new cars, TIVO, a billion TV channels, etc.
I guess we all have our priorities.
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The link in the “Rethink meat” bullet isn’t working for me, which is a shame because the url looked pretty interesting.
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You can also read this article from the NY Times. It talks about what to focus on when buying organic, like what kinds of food have the greatest impact on your health and the environment.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/22/five-easy-ways-to-go-organic/?scp=5&sq=organic%20food&st=cse
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@Peter
That’s the curse of an ever-changing post schedule. I apologize. I removed the link, because the article it pointed to won’t go live until a week from today, at the earliest! It’s a review I’ve done of a short book about buying meat on a budget.
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Great post! One of the reasons we decided to go with a square foot garden this year is so we’d have cheap access to fresh, organic produce. I like A.D.’s comment about people who can’t afford organic food, but have lots of new gadgets. That’s something that resonated with me when I read Barbara Kingsolver’s book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. She mentions that in the U.S., the one place we’re always trying to cut costs is with our food. She points out, much like A.D., that we’ll spend loads of money on all sorts of other things, but no one wants to spend a cent more than absolutely necessary on what goes into their mouths. Interesting.
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list of organic coupons here.
http://affluentpauper.blogspot.com/2009/01/organic-coupons-where-to-find-them.html
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Hey JD,
Thanks for posting my Tweet! On the meat subject, I’m a serious carnivore, but I have found it to be doable to reduce my meat intake. Basically, I do it by limiting my meat intake to one meal a day. Every other meal has to be veg only.
I’ve been able to stick with for 2009 so far without a problem. American’s eat way too much meat.
Cheers!
Nick
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We do a CSA subscription during season (right now in Fla.) and its great. The produce is delivered to our back door every other week and its always fun to try different produce that we wouldn’t necessarily buy in the store. I’m also happy to support the farmers in my county.
I’m also a pescetarian (no red meat, pork or chicken) which means I eat fish, eggs, and dairy so that cuts down on the grocery bill. Mr. Sam is a meat eater but we don’t buy much meat because I don’t eat it.
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Thanks for including my tweet. Like @cdwarren, I’m also getting on the CSA bandwagon this year — checking my options now.
Also, you have my twitter username a little messed up. It’s @DeirdreReid — you have the “i” and “e” turned around. Happens a lot as you can imagine.
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Mark Bittman was just on NPR (On Point) the other day speaking about his book, “Food Matters”. Very interesting and worth a listen…I even bought his book. If you really think you can’t decrease your meat intake, I urge you to think long and hard about the decision. Just going veggie one night a week, makes a big impact. Not just on the planet, but on your health and your budget.
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It’s been a long time since we bought meat to eat at home, so I’m probably not remembering how hard it was to rethink our relationship with meat. But I was surprised to see you say you “couldn’t” do this. Maybe it’s because you’re thinking in terms of giving up meat instead of just choosing meals that don’t include meat? If you like cheese and eggs, for example, there are many items (quiche, omelets, huevos rancheros, lots of pasta dishes) that make good dinners without meat. Chili without meat can be just as satisfying, and so on. Lots and lots of Indian foods don’t include any meat…
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I’ll also throw in support for the reduce meat option. I have no interest in a vegetarian lifestyle but it is easy to go to only one meal a day having meat and from there to 2 or 3 days being all veggie. I started that approach to help with losing weight but kept to it based on environmental concerns.
Of course it helps that I love Indian and Thai food and love veggies anyway.
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I agree with so many others, if we make it a priority it’s you can find the money in your budget. But then I don’t think that organic is more expensive. If you’re shopping at the grocery store it is, but at farmer’s markets and in season it’s much cheaper and healthier than than produce at the grocery store (organic or conventional). Meats, dairy and eggs are also much cheaper if you find a local source. You are not only getting cheaper healthier food for yourself but you’re supporting your local economy and not the bottom line of super big box store. I also refuse to buy processed organic food, at that point it’s not worth it.
Beth, yes I love that quote from Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, I actually have it written in my journal. Here it is:
“It’s interesting that penny-pinching is an accepted defense for toxic food habits, when frugality so rarely rules other consumer domains. The majority of Americans buy bottled water, for example, even though water runs fromt he tap for a fraction of the cost, and government standards are strickter for tap water than for bottled water.”
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@AD- HOW TRUE! I guess it is about priorities. We choose not to have cable or dine out (more than once a month) so we are able to buy high quality food (organic, fresh, local, etc.)
Have you all though about how organic at Wal-Mart may differ than organic at Whole Foods? I know there is a certification process (USDA or Oregon Tilth?), but it makes you wonder when they seem to have very different approaches to food and lifestyle. What do you all think?
P.S. Became a vegetarian, saved sooooo much money!
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I recently read a blog post that claimed that people are eating more “junk food” and processed foods to save money. I couldn’t disagree with that more! I’m saving money by purchasing more ‘staple’ items and making my own meals. Convenience does not equal money savings!
With that said, on to the organic issue. I primarily buy fruits and veggies in the organic section, but only if the item is in season—-trying to buy organic grapes in the dead of winter will cost you more in both money and in your ‘carbon footprint’ (where are those grapes flown from, anyway?)
I’m not such a stickler about non-fruit and veggie organics. If it’s on sale, I’ll buy it (example, “organic” salad dressing). If not, I’ll go with the lowest price “non-organic” item but will check the ingredient and nutritional value label to make sure it’s not just a bunch of preservatives in a bottle.
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Great post!
Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and pay more. I’m talking in particular about pregnant women and children.
We wrote about this on our blog that pregnant women and young children may be especially sensitive to residual pesticides found on many fruits and vegetables. Fetuses and small children have rapidly developing immune and neurological systems that are extremely sensitive to toxins.
A University of Washington study discovered that the levels of pesticides in the urine of children decreased after they were provided organic diets.
In addition, children consuming a generally organic produce diet had 1/6 the amount of pesticides in their urine than children eating a conventional diet.
If money is extremely tight consider the non-profit Environmental Working Group’s ranking of the pesticide loads of 43 commonly purchased fruits and vegetables.
This list will tell you which fruits and vegetables have the lowest pesticide residues. These are the fruits and vegetables for which you may consider buying the non-organic variety.
Bananas with their thick skins which help keep out pesticides is one prime example.
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If you’ve got the space, a freezer is a great investment for eating organically. My husband and I sell naturally-raised (i.e. not certified organic) beef at a farmers’ market, and it is much cheaper to buy a 1/4 or 1/2 a cow than individual cuts. In addition, I buy fresh fruit in season and freeze it for smoothies year-round.
Also, don’t be afraid of asking the farmers at the market for bulk orders/pricing. If you want to do some canning but don’t have the space to grow tomatoes, ask how much for a bushel. I bet most would give you a discount.
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Speaking of Pesticides. I’d like the option to buy pesticide free produce that isn’t necessarily organic.
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Excellent post.
@ Charlie – This is something that is on my mind now more than ever. I am trying to decide how I am going to handle my diet going forward, including eating more organic but only in areas where it makes a difference. Thanks for the stats.
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Women and children who are on WIC can often use their foodstamps at farmer’s markets. It’s a great way to get fresh fruit and vegetables for single mothers who are having trouble making ends meet.
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When starting the switch to organic you don’t have to go the “All or Nothing” route. Do a little research into the vegetables you like and make smart choices about where to go organic. Do you eat a lot of potatoes? Potato skin accumulates pesticides so that would be a good choice for organic. Never eat the skins (where the vitamins reside, too)? Then buy organic apples instead (a very highly sprayed fruit).
That said, I must recommend CSAs. Not only do you get good quality organic veggies at a good price with a small carbon footprint, you’ll probably get more vegetables than you’re accustomed to, which means you’ll do something good for your health, too.
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yay, i was “quoted” in an article!
I always get the Organic milk, since it’s the only way i can get something larger then a quart in an opaque container (at least where i live), and light destroys vitamins in milk [source: Alton Brown, from "Good Eats"].
I have to get organic carrots & apples, as i’m allergic to the pesticides they use on those products. So, for everyone who is going to be posting about how organics aren’t worth it: Please remember that for some of us it’s MORE then just some “ethical” choice: Some of us just want to eat some food.
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I’m an organic food skeptic. I’m not sure it’s really any better for you or the environment than its alternatives. I feel that, like hybrid cars, it’s more about making the purchaser feel good about his expenditure than it actually is about helping the environment or anyone’s health.
Things like getting more exercise to stay healthy, or taking public transit to work to reduce carbon emissions are hard. They require us to change our daily routines. It’s obvious that they make a pretty big impact on our health and our energy use, though.
Organic food lets us feel like we’re being healthier without having to really do anything (like exercise). Never mind that we can’t show it makes us any healthier than conventional food — we get to feel like we’re being healthy by buying more expensive produce.
I mean, I haven’t heard the news story yet about people being sick, or obese, or dying young because they ate way too many vegetables that came from a non-organic farm, have you?
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If there is one thing I’m not frugal with is nutrition. Not just organic for organic sake, but food and nutrition in general for good health. It just so happen that buying organic produce is what I do most of the time since it’s so easy where I live (Berkeley). Going to a conventional store for conventional food would definitely be going out of my way and wouldn’t be cheaper both short and long term.
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Once upon a time I met regularly with a group to talk over simple & frugal living. The topic of more-expensive organic food came up, and one pointed out: If we don’t support it, who will? This was probably ten years ago, and as predicted, organic food is increasingly available and isn’t so much more expensive anymore.
I still don’t buy all-organic, but I do go to farmer’s markets, and happen to eat veggie more often than not. When I do eat meat, it’s a component of a larger meal (strips of meat in a burrito, slices on a pizza) rather than the main event (8 oz hunk o’ meat).
Whenever anyone says “I couldn’t do that” I immediately question the statement. JD: you *could* reduce your meat intake. You don’t have to, but you probably *could*, unless you’re eating an ounce of it per day!
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I am also surprised to hear you say that you couldn’t reduce your meat intake. Unless you are already vegetarian, I don’t see how you would find that impossible. It seems like you mean that that isn’t something you are willing to try. Why the close mindedness? Is there something wrong with one additional meatless meal per week? With all of the other areas where you are willing to be frugal, why pick this easy one on which to resist?
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sigh
The whole “I couldn’t reduce my meat intake” no longer makes sense in the context of this post. Originally, I’d scheduled the organic post for this afternoon. The morning post was going to be a review of a book about how to save money on meat, in which I talk about how I eat a lot of it. So this little comment, which originally had a link back to the meat post, was meant to be funny. Now it just doesn’t work. It won’t make any sense until a week from today at the earliest!
That my friends, is what happens when an editor fails. (In this case, I am my own editor.)
And what I mean to say is: I eat a lot of meat, and I know it, and I’m okay with it, and I’m not willing to change!
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This article is just what I needed. I live in VT, a very health conscious,eco-friendly, organic loving type of state. So I do my best to buy local and organic foods, however I am just out of college and not exactly rolling in green. This will help me save quite a bit the next time I grab some groceries!
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Our family belongs to a local organic Co-op. The food is not local, *but* for $50 every two weeks we get a huge bin of fresh, in season all organic fruits and veggies. The value we receive is well above the $50 we pay, as local price comparison at a grocery shows this to be a 20% discount from grocery prices. Additionally, there is often extra food on the back table that others don’t want or is extra, and is free for the taking.
The key is to plan our meals around this produce which lowers our overall grocery bill.
Here is a list of what we just picked up yesterday:
Beets, Gold
Cabbage, Napa
Carrots, Baby Peeled
Cauliflower
Celery
Garlic, White
Kale, Lacinato
Lettuce, Green Leaf
Onions, Green (Scallions)
Tomatoes, Roma (Plum)
Yams, Medium Garnet or Jewel
Apples, Fuji
Avocados, Hass
Banana, Green
Grapefruit, Ruby, Rio Star
Mangos, Tommy Atkins
Oranges, Valencia
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Here’s the list of best and worst foods in terms of pesticide use. It’s a good way to help you choose when to spend the extra cash:
THE RED ZONE . . .
AVOID UNLESS ORGANIC!
Peaches
Apples
Sweet Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Carrots
Pears
Frozen Winter Squash
BEST OF
THE BUNCH
Broccoli
Orange Juice
Blueberries
Papaya
Cabbage
Bananas
Kiwi
Canned Tomatoes
Sweet Peas
Asparagus
Mango
Canned Pears
Pineapple
Sweet Corn
Avocado
Onions
(Source: http://www.grinningplanet.com/2006/update-2005-05-24/pesticides-in-food.htm )
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I could not agree more with Tyler, a few comments above. I actually go out of my way to AVOID purchasing “organic” food. The alternative is typically less expensive, just as filling, and until my doctor tells me otherwise, just as healthy.
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A note about the “organic” terminology: the process of getting certified organic can, I gather, be pretty onerous and expensive. But if you buy from a CSA (check *now* because now is when farms are lining people up for summer–and in some case, winter–shares) or a farmer’s market, there’s a good chance you can get organically-grown food that may not be certified organic. In other words, try to talk to the people growing your food, and you may be able to secure organic without the pricey “organic” label.
That said, if you are going by labels, you might want to be cognizant of where the item comes from. Many countries have much less stringent requirements for things that are labeled organic, and in some cases the food regulations really aren’t the same. (Think, for example, the problems with melamine in milk over the last couple months.)
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I didn’t make organic a priority until recently. Our 10-month-old has started eating meat and veggies and all of a sudden putting our money where his (and our) mouths were became more important. We buy organic fruits and veggies for him, have cut down on meat significantly and then make an effort only to buy grass fed or free range. And we do this on a small budget. If you are clever, you don’t have to spend a lot to incorporate good stuff into your diet. Aldi goes a long way in filling the void. We also are members of a CSA for veggies and eggs, and that lasts from May to October.
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Great tips from everyone. And yet another reason to try and buy fresh/local/organic– there are recent studies that found mercury in high fructose corn syrup (found in many processed foods like ketchup, salad dressing, and the obvious ones like jams and snacks).
While I’d say we eat meat most nights of the week, we probably stretch a serving over 2-3 nights. Meat is more of a flavoring rather than the main protein in our meals.
I prioritize my organic produce buying based on research from various environmental groups; for example, since the pesticide load is greater for apples than onions, if I have to choose, I’ll buy organic apples and non-organic onions. Regardless, buying whatever’s freshest and in season tends to get me lower prices since there’s more supply to meet demand; plus it’s healthier.
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Tyler K – I understand your skepticism about organic being just another fad. It’s not a magic bullet to health or decreasing global warming, but it is a step. If you are a healthy person who eats a lot of vegetables, it makes *more* sense to eat organics because your exposure to pesticides is greater the more you eat. The studies showing the nutritional benefits of organics (v. conventionally grown) are slowly being completed with good results for organics.
For the record, there aren’t any studies showing the consequences, if any, of prolonged exposure to myriad combinations of pesticides, food additives, herbicides and fertilizers, either. We do know, though, that people who eat this diet are experiencing health problems in record numbers. Whether it’s cancer, diabetes, immune problems, ADD, or depression and related mental health issues, the numbers are increasing. I am not saying it is necessarily a result of chemicals in our diet, I’m just saying that we haven’t done any research to rule it out, either. Be sketpical, too, about the supposed harmlessness of a late 20th century American diet.
Be a skeptic, by all means – science requires skepticism – but don’t close your mind to the possibilities, either. I made an informed choice for organics about 15 years ago. Since then, as additional research has been done, I’ve moved more toward sustainably grown, local produce, even if it’s not organic. It bugs me that I’m following a trend in this choice, but my choice isn’t based on the trend, it’s based on the science behind it.
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I’m with Tyler @ 25 and Jimmy @ 33, I just haven’t seen the scientific evidence that organic food is any better for me.
Yes I have seen the statistics on organic promoting websites but for every study in their favour there is a corresponding study which shows no difference, until the balance of scientific evidence shifts I avoid organic groceries as much as possible.
I do agree with AD @ #3- it’s all about priorities- I prefer to spend my extra grocery money on free range meat and eggs- but if you believe organic food is worth purchasing you need to make it a priority to afford it- to each their own.
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i have a vegetable garden in my back yard.
it is fun to work in the garden. not only that i can have free vegetables that are fresh and healthy to eat.
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I have always read that if you can’t afford organic for your foods, try to afford the organic dairy products. I give my children organic milk. But I will say that Publix brand milk is made without any hormones so I will buy that in a pinch.
I do not choose to buy organic foods for the most part yet. The mark up is very high. I would consider buying organic meat but haven’t had to yet.
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Not everyone who “can’t afford it” has a lot of gadgets and toys … but some do. Others look at a one-item price (organic milk costs $4.69 a gallon at our store; regular is $3.50) and say “I can’t afford that!” But I believe organic milk is important.
The person who made that milk argument said her kids drink 2 gallons a week. The total cost for her to go organic would be $9.50 per month. What else might she spend $10 that she could change?
Also, check prices across different stores or markets. There can be a big difference. Shop everywhere for organic bargains … our local produce discount market often has organic produce.
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I wonder if the folks saying “cheaper is better for you” have been really poor. When you’re that close to the wire – and I mean poor, not merely broke because you blew your discretionary income on some DVDs – your first priority is what is cheap and filling. $5 worth of organic broccoli will not feed your whole family and make them stop being hungry, but $5 worth of boxed macaroni and cheese will. Yes, there are cheap meals you can make from scratch (the famous rice and beans). No, it’s not simply a matter of giving up your TiVO and the bounty of riches falling into your lap.
As for organic, the label is used in a lot of silly ways – think about what you’re buying and whether it really matters. If it means ‘we didn’t spray RoundUp on your strawberries,’ that’s actually a very good thing. But I’ve seen “organic honey” – are they really trying to tell you that they track where every bee goes to make sure it doesn’t touch a pesticide-tainted flower?
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This depends on where you live, but there’s a great little produce stand by Reed College that I get a portion of my produce from including milk from small local dairies (I don’t believe they’re certified organic, but buying local is more my goal than organic) for $.25-$.50 more a gallon than my local mega-mart.
Also, if you have the time, and certainly not everyone does, padding your diet with made from scratch grains and beans can be extremely economical. I can get long grain Lundgren brown rice from the bulk bins for $1-$1.50/lb and for $2-$3 worth I can have dinner sides all week, same with baked potatoes. Again, dried beans (even organic) cost around $2/lb from the bulk bin and if mixed with spices, rice and veggies make a great versatile lunch that you can eat all week for pennies a serving.
It would probably provide room even in the tightest of budgets for fresh organic produce.
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Can someone explain to me please how meat is expensive? Calorie for calorie it seems cheaper than, say, brocoli. Is brocoli just the wrong thing to compare it to – should I be comparing to, say, beans instead?
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Steve – Beans are a much better comparison; you’re comparing protein to protein. Beans cost about $0.80 per pound, meat a lot more (from about $1.80/lb for hamburger to say $9/lb for mainstream sourced steaks). Meat has a lot of saturated fat, beans have none. Beans have fiber, meat has none. Meat has complete protein, beans have to be supplemented with a grain, such as brown rice, to complete the protein. There is nothing in meat (meaning all mammals and poultry) that you can’t get from a vegetarian diet. Fish is a different story and it’s looking like wild fish is pretty important to our health.
You’ll need some broccoli, too, with either beans or meat.
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I’ve read a lot that just because it is organic, doesn’t necessarily mean its better or healthier for you. Do the research because you may just be spending more money for no reason. You can still be very healthy without eating organic.
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I think it’s great that you included Twitter links or people in this post. Nice touch.
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Even the cheaper meats, like whole chicken & beef roasts have a significant portion of which you can’t eat (bones, skin, fat).
So a 3 lb roasting chicken at $.79/lb might end up with 1.5 lbs of cooked edible meat (throw out the carcass & skin plus evaporation during cooking) which might be what… six small servings? or roughly $.40 a serving. Not too expensive, but there’s a lot of waste to get to it.
Versus 2 cups of dried pinto beans, or about 1.5 lbs @ $1.79/lb makes closer to 7 cups once cooked, or 14 servings for $.20 a serving.
I don’t think you can really compare meat to broccoli for all the reasons Steph mentioned… although if you would normally eat a 1/2 lb chicken breast ($3/lb… $1.50) and instead you cut it into chucks and serve it mixed with broccoli to create two servings you now have 1/4 lb chicken breast ($.75) and 1/4 pound broccoli ($1.25/lb… $.31) and 1 cup of cooked brown rice ($1/lb makes 6 cups… $.16 ea) You’re now spending $1.22 for a much more well rounded and probably more filling dinner at 70% of the cost.
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“Beans and rice. Rice and beans.” in the words of Mr. Ramsey. And being a vegetarian certainly helps!
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Thanks for including my tweet!
I prioritize my organic spending, too. I hardly ever buy processed organic because it’s crazy-expensive, but I don’t buy lots of conventional processed food either — mostly noodles and rice. At farmer’s markets, I ask for vendors that don’t spray, but I’m not any pickier than that. Eating local in Minnesota seemed impossible year-round until I realized how long I could stretch root vegetables and how easy it was to freeze you-picked berries. I’ll be eating California lettuce for the next couple months, but we’re still eating home-canned tomatoes and jam and applesauce.
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