Please explain Trader Joe's

[Anonymous]

And Trader Joe's is not organic

If it says it is organic, then it's organic. Or else they are breaking federal law. Is that what you are really saying, that Trader Joes is being knowingly and willingly deceptive when it labels its organic frozen strawberries as "organic" ?

If that is what you are saying, then please come back and tell us how you know this is occurring. Do you work as an investigator for the USDA? Maybe you routinely send of samples of TJ's food that is labeled organic to a private university like Cornell for testing?

[Anonymous]

yup, traders is for certain items:
nuts, dried fruit, cereals, frozen stuff, soups, english muffins, yogurt, bagged lettuce, grape tomatoes, chips, hummus, etc.

wf for produce, fish, meat, can get reasonably priced basics too.

[Anonymous]

TJs also has amazing beauty products - the hand soap and mango honey shaving cream are totally worth the trip.

[Anonymous]

I think the consensus, and I agree, is that TJs is not a one-stop grocery destination. It's great for certain things and lacking in others. I for one love to peruse their fresh flowers and plants section at different times of the year. I do TJs in conjunction with Whole Foods and sometimes the Teeter.

Wegmans rocks but way too far. I consider it a field trip to go out there. Rumor mill has it there will be a Wegmans in Germantown in 2012 but that doesn't help us city folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

And Trader Joe's is not organic

If it says it is organic, then it's organic. Or else they are breaking federal law. Is that what you are really saying, that Trader Joes is being knowingly and willingly deceptive when it labels its organic frozen strawberries as "organic" ?

If that is what you are saying, then please come back and tell us how you know this is occurring. Do you work as an investigator for the USDA? Maybe you routinely send of samples of TJ's food that is labeled organic to a private university like Cornell for testing?

Relax and have some Shu Mai with pear cider, PP. I was referring to this post:

"I think you are very confused about what TJs has to offer. TJs skews towards unprocessed foods without preservatives."

Trader Joe's sells food with exactly the same ingredients as the same items sold in regular stores -- unlike WF, which has a set of standards that all products must meet to be sold there, so even if it's not organic, you know it's at least met those standards. And it's not mostly organic or "all natural" like stores like Moms. Most of their breads have mono and diglycerides (sp), dough conditioners and all the other crap found in regular breads and bagels at giant or safeway. For people who really care about quality food and actually read the ingredients, posts like the one I was referring to above are laughable.

[Anonymous]

PP-I had to read 5 pages just to realize you stole my thunder. People who don't get TJ's appeal, I have one word for you-Pork Shu Mai. OK, that's three words but if that shit was a high end powder blusher they'd call it Orgasm. Depends on what kind of cooker you are. Fresh fish, meat, produce and ready made foods-Wegmans and WF hands down. Condiments, frozen foods, lip balm and non perishables-TJ's for best value. Cheap paper towels, laundry detergent, toilet paper and other things you don't eat-Safeway or Giant again for best value. 270 oz. cans of Heinz ketchup and crab legs for $1.79 a pound-Costco. Place to shop as a common man without regard for other commen men plus the added enjoyment of viewing lots of overweight women dressed in Spandex-Walmart This ain't a Piggly Wiggly town. There is no one stop shop around here (not counting Target but that's for haute couture and school supplies).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Before the economy tanked I shopped exclusively at Whole Foods and Moms. Now I shop at TJs. TJs is like a trip to the dollar store -- it's fun but when you get home you wonder why you spent all that money on cheap knock-offs.

TJ's not for foodies although it tries to pretend it is. I do like that they have some things cheaper than anywhere, like nuts and bananas. I try never to buy produce there and NEVER buy meat there anymore. NEVER.

My SIL is a foodie and loves TJs (and Wegmans and Whole Foods). There are certain products she just loves (I think they all fall in the dessert category).

[Anonymous]

Mini peanut butter cups.

That is all you need to know about TJs and you will keep coming back. One time I couldn't find them and almost cried. And then, near the check-out line. There they were.......stacks and stacks of them. Pure bliss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:they discontinued the beer bread?!? why? that is my only problem with TJ's, they constantly discontinue items that I love.

You are not alone;

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/383886

Also

"Who makes Trader Joe's Food?"

http://www.chow.com/food-news/54340/who-makes-trader-joes-food/

and

http://www.chow.com/food-news/64791/trader-joe-s-exposed/

http://www.chow.com/food-news/70450/more-trader-joe-s-exposed/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:they discontinued the beer bread?!? why? that is my only problem with TJ's, they constantly discontinue items that I love.

You are not alone;

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/383886

Also

"Who makes Trader Joe's Food?"

http://www.chow.com/food-news/54340/who-makes-trader-joes-food/

and

http://www.chow.com/food-news/64791/trader-joe-s-exposed/

http://www.chow.com/food-news/70450/more-trader-joe-s-exposed/

Yes, I'm sure they buy up the seconds from these companies, and my guess is that's why their inventory is always so erratic and they have no idea when they will get things in and can't simply order predictably enough to keep things on their shelves like other stores -- if all goes well with their suppliers and there are no seconds, then there is nothing to sell cheaply to Trader Joe's that day or week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The worst problem with TJ is that they move stuff around constantly and sometimes discontinue your favorite item (wherefore art thou, dried strawberries?).

The Reston store. Also, my kid loves them. She likes the blueberries even more. It's hysterical to see her face all blue.

[Anonymous]

I think the prepared or frozen foods at Whole Foods are incredibly bland. I wouldn't buy meat or produce at TJ's but the simmer sauces, tortillas and frozen prepared foods are great. We stock up about once a month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know what I heard? That at Congressional Plaza in Rockville (Container Store, Buy Buy Baby), they are opening a "Fresh Market" grocery store which is supposed to be just like Wegmans! Not sure what is happening with the Whole Foods located there when it opens--seems like too close to have both upscale markets located but what do I know?

Fresh Market is gorgeous and beautiful. My grandmother lives in Williamsburg and they've been down there a few years now. It's a really outstanding store -- it has decent prices and good selection, in comparison to Ukrops.