I needed to get out into the country over the weekend and take care of a couple of errands. While there, I stopped at a roadside farm stand and scored big time. 20# box of regular canning tomatoes, $9.00. A 10 lb. box of Roma tomatoes $8.00 (these were 1sts, so more expensive; could have gotten a 20 lb. box of 2nds for $12, but I don't need that many; 2nds were only available in big boxes). Huge green peppers 2/$1.00. Banana peppers, $1.00/lb. For my chef friend -- Poblano peppers (and they were huge) $1.50/lb. Jalapenos $1.00/lb. Tomatillos $1.00/lb. Also grabbed a quart of peaches on a clearance rack because they were really ripe, $2.00. Fresh corn by the ear, 2 ears for $0.75 -- I love it, but it doesn't love me, or I would have gotten more; I think it was $4.50/dozen. Cabbage (a huge head) $2.50. Quart basket of plums $3.50. Zucchini dropped from 3/$1.00 to 4/$1.00 this week, as zucchini is really coming on strong with the rain we got last week; I didn't need any more, or I would have stocked up to shred for the freezer (I don't have room for any more).
I think I've got enough produce for the week and well into next week. If you're remotely close to the country and a farming area, watch for those roadside stands. They've got some really really really good deals and can save you a ton of money.
FYI, from the 20 lb. box of tomatoes, I expect I'll get somewhere between 12 and 18 pints of plain tomatoes for use in chili, casseroles, etc. (this will be for my DD; I still have plenty left from last year). From the 10 lb. box of Roma's, I'll probably get 8-10 pints of spaghetti sauce. It's cost effective to can them, I know exactly what's in that jar, and I can control my sodium better than with commercially prepared. And, it tastes sooooo much better that what you can buy.
