Anonymous wrote:real vanilla
bar soap
the prosciutto
pane
salsa

but that's about it. i mostly dislike their frozen food offerings. i find them cheap and not high quality

What is pane?

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Anonymous wrote:I have had the issue with rotting food from TJs- that Pp isn’t wrong. I am much more careful now with what I’ll buy there. Tend to stick to frozen crap and candy and dairy- but not cheese. That goes bad so fast! Or is already sort of bad when I open it. I do love TJs for being so fun and seasonal but I don’t understand how people can do their full shop there.

I don't know a single person who does all their shopping at TJs.

I do and have for more than 20 years. We eat entirely organically and tons of veggies and fruits. We don’t eat much bread. I shudder every time I go into a giant Safeway or HT. Talk about being full of chemical crap. The produce is covered in chemicals that make it last longer. Their organic produce lasts no longer than TJs. That is the point. And anyone who eats all that processed crap is begging for colon cancer.

Do you think that’s why TJ produce goes bad so quickly? Bc it’s all organic and not
Covered with chemicals etc? That’s interesting… (PP of the delicious frozen crap and the moldy produce)

I bought from Whole Foods intermittently for years and their organic produce went bad faster than TJs. This is true of all organic produce. It’s why you shouldn’t want your fruit to be all lasting forever. How’s it doing that, good lord.

I am a sort of smart person and I didn’t realize this. Thanks. But I do want my pears, cucumbers, whatever, to last until I eat them! Buying organize all the time must commit you to grocery shopping more frequently? I have four kids and do not want to shop all the time, so I buy a lot of apples or whatever. Speaking of apples, I buy huge quantities from my local farm and they don’t go bad as fast as TJs? And I assume they’re organic, or at least local…

They’re local and not organic. And yes I buy twice a week. I’ve never had my pears or cucumbers go bad within a week. And I have gone there for 20 years.

TJ produce is more expensive than regular grocery stores, but the rest of the stuff is a bit cheaper, and better quality IMO.

They always have more interesting frozen and preprepared food selection than other places. The only thing I really don't like of TJs stuff is their sandwich breads. I find it way too dense.

Bag salad
Prepared cooked chicken -- we use it for lunches
Handmade tamales -- seasonal, we buy a bunch and freeze them
frozen foods -- love the international variety
cheeses -- great prices
dried fruits and nuts -- great prices

We do a TJ and Harris Teeter run.

Anonymous wrote:I have tried to understand why people shop at Trader Joe’s for years now. Not a single time that I’ve gone have I ever filled a basket or truly understood the reason for its hype.

Everything is seasonal or expires so quickly unless it’s frozen.

Maybe it expires quickly because it isn't loaded with preservatives?

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I was referencing for example the pumpkin loaves and donut holes. The sour cream donuts my kids like are a seasonal item. The breakfast pastry type goods tend to expire within a day or two at my local TJs. I am not sure if this is a one off but I do believe stores like Costco, Giant, etc.. have a few extra days on their labels in my experience.

generally, if those items last longer, it's because they have more chemicals

Anonymous wrote:It's my closest grocery store, we've developed favorites sold there, we also shop at a traditional grocery store to fill out the mainstays.

Doubt you'll be convinced. And that's fine, I don't share the love of Aldi's, that its fans do. We don't all have to like the same things.

Aldi's stuff is awful. Even my DS (college) said he notices the difference between the quality of eggs and produce at Aldis vs like Trader Joes and other better grocery stores.

Sometimes, you really do get what you pay for.

real vanilla
bar soap
the prosciutto
pane
salsa

but that's about it. i mostly dislike their frozen food offerings. i find them cheap and not high quality

I buy few frozen foods. I like that it is much smaller so quicker shopping, it is much cheaper as well than my local grocery store. I would get veggies/fruit at Whole Foods theoretically but it's too far from me. Fresh foods also SHOULD expire quickly!

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I was referencing for example the pumpkin loaves and donut holes. The sour cream donuts my kids like are a seasonal item. The breakfast pastry type goods tend to expire within a day or two at my local TJs. I am not sure if this is a one off but I do believe stores like Costco, Giant, etc.. have a few extra days on their labels in my experience.

Compare the list of ingredients for TJs breads and other things with Giant, etc. The reason TJs items expire more quickly is because they include fewer preservatives. It’s better for you. Just put them in the fridge/freezer so they last longer.

We like their frozen fruit, especially cherries and blueberries. I get nuts there at great prices. The cereals don’t have artificial colors. I love their pre made lentils.

They have milk, eggs, yogurt at good prices.

I never understood the Trader Joe’s hate. If you don’t like the place, just don’t go. Why bash it on the internet? What does that do for you?

Anonymous wrote:Their dairy and flowers and wine are superior to and cheaper than Giant and Safeway. They have things like frozen chopped leeks and cauliflower gnocchi and pork buns, which I cannot find in other store and use often. The workers are nicer than anywhere else.

This post explains why TJ’s has its ardent supporters but is not worth the trip for most people. I don’t care about buying things like frozen chopped leeks or cauliflower gnocchi! I also don’t want frozen foods. So to each their own!

I’ve shopped there intermittently for 20 years and I can’t understand the cult following. I much prefer to get produce at Whole Foods and for my typical big weekly shop I prefer the convenience of a larger store. I do think they have nice employees but so does my local Harris Teeter (mostly). If I do make a special trip, it’s usually because I want flowers or sweet potato fries. We’ve tried sooooo many packaged/prepared foods over the years and most have been disappointing so I’m hesitant to try new products.

It has interesting things that other stores do not have. The downside is they are often discontinued. I go there mostly for “fun” food - snacks, interesting cheeses, frozen meals. They have good prices on produce, but you do have to be careful about what you get. For me, it is not a “fill your cart” kind of pls e. It is more of a fill one bag.

But you know, not everyone likes the same thing. You just may not be a fan. That is OK.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everything expires so quick unless it’s frozen?

How does this differ from things at any other grocery store? I’m confused?

Also, Giant sells seasonal items, too. So I’m still confused. Can you elaborate?

Poor you is SO confused!!!

You’re just trying to feel superior, but you are failing.

Are you going to explain how the non-frozen items and TJ branded seasonal items are different from the non-frozen items and brand name seasonal items at other grocery stores are different, or not?

The difference is that TJ bread doesn't have preservatives, a fact there they advertise.

The other difference is that TJ seasonal items are different from other stores' seasonal items.

Anonymous wrote:Everything expires so quick unless it’s frozen?

How does this differ from things at any other grocery store? I’m confused?

Also, Giant sells seasonal items, too. So I’m still confused. Can you elaborate?

It's my closest grocery store, and I walk over there at least once a week. I've never had food expire within a week.