Some subjects, as this one, isn't posted to provide solutions.....because aside from spending your life shopping at other stores, there isn't one, but is posted to either see how many are in agreement and how many offer a wider view. The usual suggestion to move is normal, not unusual but also accomplishes nothing. TOTV with few exceptions is an adversarial board....so it's important we cool our jets, it is what it is.

Exactly. It is also called comparison shopping and knowing the prices from store to store. Walmart is not always the cheapest, but often the highest. I buy one staple at Publix for $2.59, even sometimes 2/$4.00; the same staple at Walmart is $2.78 always. Publix has items that Walmart does not carry; Walmart has items that Publix does not carry. Another poster was right about the BOGO's, too. That will bring the prices way down. I just don't understand the people that will only buy one on the BOGO's. Take both and share with someone like a neighbor or a food bank. It isn't costing anymore. On the two-for items, you only have to buy one at Publix to get the discounted price; other places, you have to buy two or pay full price. I go to Aldi's, if and when, I am in the area of Aldi's. Publix is right around the corner and Walmart is almost as close. No Winn Dixie is close.

It all pretty much comes down to preference. What I prefer is not what someone else prefers and vice-versa. As a side note, we always paid less for seafood "back home" in cattle country than when we would come to Florida to visit family before we moved here or even knew The Villages existed. And besides, they live on the east coast of Florida. At one time, we owned a vacation home in Destin, FL, on the gulf. Same thing. I never have figured that one out.

The add posted was from Food City. Isn’t that a discount food store similar to the Aldis concept?

:agree:

Super markets
 

Well, jumping in, we live up north, NYS, southwest of Buffalo. Have a home in TV and look forward to spend the winter months there. Positive all the way with one exception, grocery shopping. Food is more expensive here, the quality of fresh fruits and vegetables Is lacking. But we are willing to trade off for the sunshine, etc. our major vendors are Wegmans, Tops, and Aldis. Wegmans best for fruits and veggies. Cheese joiners are numerous to say the least. Olive bar could supply a appetizer night at your home. When in season they use local farms for produce, sweet corn, melons, squash, tomatoes, string beans, etc,etc. They also deal with Organic farms to satisfy that need. Tops Mkts are big, they have just about everything you need or look for. Vast selection, BIG SALES, Bogor, etc. And of course we all know Aldis.
Do we miss Wegmans? of course, do we miss horizontal snow? You betcha!!
PS: I miss the star ruby grapefruit. Big, deep red interior, and incredibly juicy. Wegmans always has those.

I thought produce would taste better down here, IMO NOT. The dirt is missing something????

Pricing on everything, including groceries, is based on whatever the market can bear. Average income in Villages is above most communities it’s size so it can bear more. Only competition and desire for market share impacts that.

Gee, Jim. The only thing you left out is delivery by air. So I think the delivery mechanism is apples-to-apples, don't you agree?

In New England we have Market Basket .... they have no debt and are selling food for the same price that it costs Stop and Shop to buy it (when their debt payments are factored in). So we know what good pricing is about.

We have experienced that WD is worse than Public but nowhere as good as Market Basket. Part of the cost of living in Florida. Yet the cost of the restaurants in TV is half of Boston so we consider it all a trade. Its a mind game.

Where else can you shop in Turners without driving miles? Greenfield? Nhamp? Guess you are on your back north now for the cheap groceries.

We have NO SALES TAX and NO INCOME TAX in NH. However, it gets mighty cold in the winter so we enjoy our time in TV from January until May. Despite the higher cost for groceries and the sales taxes we incur, we are very happy to be in a nice climate at that time of year.

Not enough competition
 

South Florida had a lot of markets and vegetable fruit stands. Can’t believe with all the farms they aren’t any good ones here. We need competition.

Grocery prices are ridiculous here
 

I am a snowbird. Publix and Winn-Dixie would be eaten alive by competitors in my summer home.

The Brownwood farmers market offers a lot of choices for good veggies, breads, etc. In addition, the Market of Marion has a large assortment of vegetables, as well as the Lady Lake farmers market on 441 (just south of 466), which is open every Tuesday.

I do container gardening just because it’s quick and easy and you don’t have to bend over. Bumper crop of tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and herbs. Zucchini and squash out of control. Radishes I plant every two weeks, my carrots and potatoes are on their second planting. I quick freeze what we don’t eat right away. Our veggies are virtually free since I’m using heirloom seeds, dry them and replant. Mine look better than anything at the farmers market.

People have a tendency to say “Prices” are high wherever they live and perhaps retirees with “time on hand” even more so. Just saying.......

It's not the heat, it's the humidity.

Mine's better than yours.

I agree with most of the post about WD & Publix. But both have their good deals sometime & at least Publix have great pastries. WD I can't say. I always got to Wal Mart to buy groceries. like cereal, I like LIFE, my wife likes RAISIN BRAN. Life cereal is $3.00 a box, WD & Publix for Life cereal is $4.79 a box, Raisin Bran, is $3.79 a box & for the same size box at Wal Mart is $2.58. Half gal. of milk at Wal Mart is less than $2.00. Publix & WD just see a bunch of old people who'll buy anything at any price. Personally I think this is the way everything in The Villages is. Used to be you could live like a millionaire here, now you've got to be a millionaire to live here. Just my opinion!

You've got the best of both worlds!

I worked in the Supermarket business in NY for 25 years. The circular you posted from Food City is a very aggressive one with great prices. If you think Winn Dixie has high prices, try looking at Publix prices. Their shelf prices are equivalent to our NYC prices! They sell chicken breasts for $5.99lb!! I wrote to Publix and asked them why their retails are so high? They responded by telling me that many items are shipped from the north and the shipping/gas costs are high! I guess they don't have chickens in the south! They also offer 1c deals and Senior Discounts in their other stores, but NOT in Florida?? Guess there are too many seniors here.

New ALDI coming to 466A where LOWES is under construction close to Pinnelas

I can't wait till Aldi's opens, and I hope they have the Seedtastic bread my DIL served us for lunch in Indianapolis. Really good!

Wow! I'm impressed! I would love to see your garden some time.

There is already one open on 441, I would assume the new one will carry the same products. You can check now to see if it will have the bread you mentioned

Re: Cattle+meat
 

The old television story is simply not so if it ever was.
It is mass production.
The calf is born and raised to a certain size by one producer and then it is sold to another BUSINESS to be brought to final size. It is then sold again to the BUSINESS that will slaughter it, remove the guts and it is sold again as a side of beef.

You can buy a side of beef and cut it up yourself saving that cost but you will end up with a lot of meat that you may not want to eat. It is a lot of work and you will need a freezer in which to store it

Food is cheaper than where we lived before moving here. (So is gasoline, property tax, sales tax, auto registration to name a few other things. )

/// Sorry. this is what happens when I only read the top sentence! Good idea to check Aldi's on 441 for the bread.

Aldi's has the bread and their European seasonal products are arriving.

Thanks!

If you like Aldi's bread you might like to try Dave's Killer Bread in Publix. I went to the Woman's Seminar in Orlando and their company was there sampling their bread, it is unbelievably delicious. I went back for three slices and then they shut me off! The story behind this bread is quite something: Dave's Killer Bread | Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified Whole Grain Bread

I see it's down by me too. Is it in the freezer or out on the shelf? Looks good.

I can't believe 8 pages on food Prices! I guess there's not much going on.

I love Dave’s Good Seed Bread.

Everyone, who moved here from the suburbs of NY, NJ & Ct-knows they're living for nothing compared to the state income taxes, school taxes, property taxes,sales taxes, insurance--honestly TV is a bargain

LOVE this bread....and their raisin bread and bagels....YUM!

Bagels in Fl--just like pizza--its a joke

No, I love real Jewish bagels, but I don't eat bagels because they are loaded with carbs - but yummy. The husband eats bagels, but he prefers NY Water Bagels - is that the right name?

It's on the shelf in the bread aisle. Good stuff - load it up with butter and strawberry jam or whatever you like ....