Kati K.
Yelp
When I first moved back to Oregon, I was amazed by the low cost of groceries.
After 12 years of living in San Francisco, the last 8 of which were spent in posh Noe Valley, I'd grown accustomed to spending top dollar to feed the family. Even though I'd been knocked from my "fancy lady" throne well before the recession, I'd still grown accustomed to the convenience, quality, and aesthetic appeal of high-end grocers like Whole Foods. Sure, we didn't buy all our food there, preferring to support the locally-owned corner grocer, but it sure did feel nice to load up on flawless organic produce, herb-studded cheeses, and meat from free-roaming beasts. Rainbow was great, too, but we couldn't walk there & they don't sell meat.
Grocery shopping was more of an event than a chore. Judge me if you will, but I know very few San Franciscans who don't make eating organic, local foods a top priority - even 20-year-olds living 6 people to a two-bedroom apartment.
Things are very different in Oregon. There is still a huge appreciation for organic & sustainable foods, but most people have gardens, and many grow their own produce. An artist girlfriend in Portland told me that last year she ate nothing she didn't grow herself or acquire through barter.
Old habits die hard, and my first major grocery shopping trip in Oregon was to the New Seasons in Beaverton. I was amazed that I'd filled my basket for about 3/4 the cost of what we would've spent in San Francisco. When I told my Oregonian friends about the amazing low prices at the New Seasons, they all laughed at me. NOBODY buys all their groceries there, they assured me.
Next week I discovered Lamb's. I couldn't believe our luck - walking distance to our house, small selection of organic foods, all the basics & more. Plus, everyone was super friendly and prices were even lower than the New Seasons. Again, I told my Oregonian friends about this "amazing" new discovery. Again, they laughed at my ignorance. NOBODY buys all their groceries at the Lamb's, they assured me.
Enter: WinCo. Basically, it's like CostCo without the appliances, toys & clothing, only you don't have to buy in bulk. The organic Washington apples may be a little on the small side, you have to bag your own groceries - but the store is clean, the workers friendly, and the selection is good enough to satisfy the pickiest of former Noe Valley yuppies.
When I got to the checkout and the cashier gave my total, I literally had tears in my eyes. Soon as I got home, I bragged to my Oregonian friends that I'd found THE MOST AMAZING place to shop. This, they assured me, is where the locals go for groceries. Now I get it!
This review is, of course, not for the locals. This is for my friends back home in California. I'm not bragging how cheap stuff in Oregon is (okay, maybe a little), I'm just preparing you all not to be made fun of if you ever come to Oregon.*
* Disclaimer: Oregonians - I'm not suggesting all my California friends move to Oregon. Please take everything written here with a grain of salt.
**Also, I removed one star because the bulk pig ears (we have three dogs now) look like they could use a good scrubbing.