So, living in Seattle I've gotten used to really high food prices. $5 for ground beef, $2/lb for apples, $4+ a lb for asparagus, $4+ per lb for strawberries, etc. Amazon Fresh prices for produce/meat are actually pretty close to what is available at Safeway and other large grocery stores other than sometimes Costco. The "nice" grocery stores are another 20-33% higher or more.
So.. we were exploring nearby small markets today and were blown away at the prices at two, both by the Mexican produce stand and the Phillopino small market. Prices were half or less than what I'm used to paying. Strawberries for $1.49/lb, Asparagus $1.49/lb, ground beef $2.50/lb, whole chicken for $1.19/lb, bananas for $0.59/lb, sandwich (banh mi) for $1.75.
I think we'll try to buy as much as we can from these places, especially since they are walking distance. However... seeing prices this different did surprise me a bit. What are the downsides and risks to small ethnic grocery stores with super low (comparatively) prices? The meat looks fresh and is clearly marked and such, but I'm not sure what risks we might be taking with our health in order to reduce spending.