Reply #38: It depends on region and it depends

[SOteric]

on one's cooking skills, but if a person were to budget carefully it's more than possible.

I note that like me, you live in Washington state. NSMA lives in southern California. Both areas have access to a great deal of fresh produce, but SoCal is perhaps a cut above us in variety and low pricing.

I'm well able to spend less than that in the Seattle area by shopping farmer's markets, buying bulk and by knowing what's in season. Why would I buy a whole bunch of celery for $1.29, when I only need a maximum of 3 stalks for the week and many roadside stands will let me buy by the stalk...? While fresh produce is ideal, tastey and healthy, frozen product can help a person on a budget get their vital servings in a more fiscally efficient manner.