Is Organic and Local food more expensive?

There has been a lot written about saving money on your weekly or monthly shopping basket. Food prices are rising and we’re all noticing.

But did you know that supermarkets don’t hold all the best bargains? A recent article in The Guardian showed that markets and independent shops can be cheaper than supermarkets.

We’ve taken 7 items and compared them to a supermarket shop. All items are cheaper or more or less the same price. Most of the items are available at The Green Grocers, but all are available (and, in some cases for less) at our Farmers' Market and others across the county.

EJ Perowne Free Range Eggs (Norfolk) £1.09
Tesco £1.55(UK)
Sainsburys £1.52(UK)
Waitrose £1.65(UK)

Haughton Hall organic steaks (Norfolk) £13/k
Tesco £12.6/k (Organic UK)
Sainsburys £13.76/k(Organic UK)
Waitrose £13.82/k (Organic UK)

DJ Barnard Organic Chicken Fillet (Norfolk) £12.10/k
Tesco £14.48/k (UK organic)
Sainsburys £17.77/k (UK organic)
Waitrose £18.88/k (UK Organic)

D J Barnard Diced beef (Norfolk)£8.00/k
Tesco £8.39/k (UK)
Sainsburys £8.47/k (UK)
Waitrose £7.98/k (UK)

Ferndale Farm Maris Piper Potatoes (Norfolk) £1.99 for 2k £2.99 for 10k
Tesco £1.99 for 2.5k (UK)
Sainsburys £1.99 for 2.5k (UK)
Waitrose £2.29 for 2.5k (UK)

Norfolk Berry Garden Strawberries (Norfolk) £2.00-2.20 a punnet (400g)
Tesco £1.99/k (origin unknown)
Sainsburys £1.99 (origin unknown)
Waitrose £2.29 (UK)

Dave Morris Salad leaves (Norfolk) £1.40 per 100g
Tesco 94p for 100g (origin unknown)
Sainsburys £1.49 for 125g(origin unknown)
Waitrose £1.79 per 110g (origin unknown)

(prices taken 20th May 2008 from www.mysupermarket.com )

There must be other examples of how local and organic food can be competitive - anyone got any other good examples?

Your special ingredient

We've finally entered the blogosphere - better late than never. We'll be sharing a few thoughts about food, drink and other things.

Great article, today, in the Observer about chef's special ingredients. It was good to see a few classics in there like Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's preference for tomato ketchup - it is a good product. Mind you, he went for the organic option unlike Ramsey...

We all have a special ingredient don't we? I think mine is pesto. A good quality pesto on bread, in a sandwich, on white fish, on pasta or even on it's own always makes me happy. I'm a big fan of a raw basil one by Seggiano.

What are your favourites?