I buy the good stuff when I can, even in the city. And I live in the center of the agricultural universe...Sacramento.
And it’s till expensive, even directly from the farm.
I can taste the difference in a second...the very first bite. Sometimes from the aroma.
My grocery bill easily runs $150+ per week and I live alone.
My weekly bill is usually $100-$125, not including cosmetics or pet stuff other than their cat food-given the price difference between the states we live in it sounds about the same. I grow as many of my own veggies as possible from April to 1st freeze-around mid November-I eat a lot of protein and fresh veggies-and no processed/junk/convenience food, same way I grew up eating-I just don’t like eating any other way-meat and eggs that is not from free range animals is practically tasteless to me-especially the beef...