Summer and I have heard from both sides regarding grocery shopping in Rincon and we have been on both sides regarding the availability and consistency of the Econo grocery store. This month, I can only say that Econo is consistently inconsistent when it comes to carrying products that are on our grocery list. For example, they carry Lenders bagels (sometimes) and we really enjoy that brands onion bagels. About two months ago, they stopped carrying Lenders brand onion bages and are now carrying a different brands onion bagels…which are more like bagel shaped bread. The consistency is soft and airy just like a thick piece of toast shaped like a bagel. We’re making due with plain bagels (Lenders) and have our fingers crossed a boat will arrive in San Juan with a giant Lenders logo on the side full of Onion bagels for Econo. We also can’t put on the ‘reduced fat’ Philadelphia cream cheese because, despite they have stocked it for the past 6 months, they have switched over to a no-name brand or are only stocking the regular brand.

I am not going to get started on their fruit/vegetable selection, but I will mention that they have had GREAT apples lately (usually they are bruised and soft) and their Roma tomatoes (they must be seasonal, cause they usually don’t have Romas) are delicious. They are actually RED!

We have been making it a habit to make split up our food shopping to a few different places to make up for the grocery stores shortcomings. We go to Sams Club for a lot of our dry goods and drinks (eh hem….Medallia/Wine) and fruit/vegetables. The problem with buying bulk vegetables/fruit is that they go bad unless we really focus on using them. After all, there are only two of us so a 10 pound bag of spinach goes a long way.

There is a gas station called La Placita on Rt. 115 at the turn going up to our house (also at the fort of Rt 413 to the right) that buys all the local homeowners fruits and vegetables. A buddy of mine that has an Avocado tree that produces hundreds of Avocados every season has La Placita come and pick every Avo off of the tree and he gets paid $.30 each. He could get a buck for them if he sold them himself on the side of the road, but not many people with jobs have time for that. Any hoooooo, La Placita has great locally grown fruit. For the past three weeks they have had delicious Avocados, Watermelons, Star Fruit and Pineapples. I didn’t really pinch pennies when I lived in California because I bought what I wanted regardless of the price as a reward to my 70 hour work week, so I don’t know how reasonable his prices are, but I am ready and willing to pay for his produce. I can honestly say that in the past two weeks I have had the best watermelons and pineapples of my life.

Do any of you have any Rincon local secrets for your grocery shopping? If you do, I’d love to hear them…we’re always looking to expand our grocery list.