Comments on: The reality of recession eating

By: Lucy

Lucy — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 00:10:54 +0000

I wonder if the baking bug has something to do with cosy notions of recession-style ‘Grandmother’ cooking? White flour, butter, sugar…these are cheap things that fill you up.
Must say the markets down here are brimming and bustling and prices haven’t changed. Yet. As you eloquently say, Sophie, Staying In is the new Going Out!

By: Jillian

Jillian — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 23:35:43 +0000

Hi Sophie,
The local farmers’ market, if nothing else, *seems* to be cheaper than the organic food I could buy at the nearest grocery store. So, while I still might not be able to buy organic, at least I’ll be able to buy locally.
Today I got the itch to get my container gardening started. Then I threw out my back. Now I can’t do much of anything. Ah well… maybe next week.

By: Sophie

Sophie — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:08:20 +0000

Jillian – thanks for commenting. It’s lovely to be able to buy organic but as you say the prices are often steep in comparison. Does your local farmers market tend to be cheaper than specifically organic produce? We’ve noticed the price of organic fruit and veg rather more recently and like you we’ve started to make plans to grow some of our own this year.
Arwen & Kathryn – it would be very interesting to know what is driving the baking increase. Baked goods are a food group that tends to be available very cheaply (using low quality ingredients) so I suspect the drive isn’t purely financial. People are always making the argument that you can buy cakes and biscuits cheaper than fresh veggies and sadly this is true. My hunch is that people are doing it as a way to spend time at home and make themselves a nice treat at the same time. But maybe there is a health/quality element to it also?

By: kathryn

kathryn — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 06:10:23 +0000

Interesting patterns Sophie. I haven’t seen many figures on the situation over here, except that overall spending on food has increased.
I can quite understand why people would be turning away from those expensive tropical fruits, and also turning to cheaper cuts of meat. But I find the turn to home baking interesting. Basic biscuits and cakes from the supermarket are still pretty cheap. I’m wondering if people are looking for a better product, something they would have previously bought at a cafe or quality bakery? Don’t know.
Home baking does have the *potential* to be better – as you’ve discussed before. But of course doesn’t necessarily translate!

By: Arwen from Hoglet K

Arwen from Hoglet K — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:41:17 +0000

It’s an interesting pattern. I guess from an environmental perspective the best news is the popularity of seasonal produce and the reduction in imported fruit. I wonder whether the baking is replacing something people ate out?

By: Jillian

Jillian — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:13:08 +0000

Interesting.
Our family’s budget is fairly bare-bones. However, up until fairly recently we have been able to afford to eat nearly 100% organic foods. Now, due to foreseen but unable to be helped circumstances, we’re eating, maybe 30% organic. We buy nearly zero pre-packaged foods, but still, we can’t afford the (what seems like) every-increasing organic prices.
So, we’re really looking forward to getting back to shopping at our local farmers’ market and hopefully to starting some container gardening soon.