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May 12, 2008 10:57 am US/Central
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Strategy From The '70s Helps Reduce Grocery Bills
EVERGREEN, Colo. (CBS) ―
Stocking the freezer and filling the pantry with sale-priced food items is an effective way to fight sky rocketing prices, says Randi Levin, a food authority and award-winning author from Evergreen, Colo.
Known locally as The Muffin Lady, she says record-high transportation costs combined with rising prices for fruit, flour and sugar have doubled the price of her mouth-watering blueberry muffins just since Christmas.
"It's going to get higher before it begins to mellow out." Levin told CBS station KCNC-TV in Denver.
To cut her grocery costs, the author is doing what other smart shoppers are doing. Randi is stocking up, but only when items are discounted. It's a return to a strategy last seen during the 1970s when inflation was out of control.
Turkey, chicken and salmon are examples of food Levin bought on sale recently. She wraps them in plastic and stuffs them in her freezer.
"I store it for servings," she explained. "So when company comes over, you can pull out three or four of them."
Levin also recommends buying and freezing freshly grown Colorado fruit during the summer months and using it, as needed, through out the rest of the year.
Her pantry also is stocked with items like flour.
"When the 5-pound bags go on sale, get three or four or five bags instead of two," she said.
Besides record-setting gasoline prices, the author says there's a new problem putting pressure on food products. She points to the growing use of farm crops for fuel. Corn-based ethanol is a good example. But the issue gets broader, Levin said.
"Almost every cooking oil that is used universally with the exception of vegetable oil is now being researched for bio-fuels."
So far, The Muffin Lady says food shortages have not materialized, but she's not ruling them out in the future.
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