Groceries in Seattle

Grocery stores

A list of stores near the UW is below (some with comments).

Don't forget, there's also the Pike Place Market (open year-round), as well as the U. District Farmer's Market, open Saturdays year-round, 9am to 2pm, at the corner of University Way & NE 50th.

There's also a local service for delivery of assorted organic (and often locally grown) produce. Check out Pioneer Organics for more and ask some of the folks in Sieg 431, who are happy customers.

Uwajimaya is an enormous Asian food market in the south end of downtown in the International District. They have an enormous selection of Japanese, Korean, Chinese, etc. foods and produce, as well as a food court and some housewares.

Some stores near UW:

• PCC Natural Markets, http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com - Vibha Sazawal: "If you want great food brought to you by great people, PCC is the place to be." That's what PCC says about itself, and I can't agree more. PCC has 7 stores throughout the Seattle area and is owned by the people who shop there -- there are over 40,000 members (including myself). You don't need to be a member, though, to shop there -- everyone is welcome. PCC offers most things that other grocery stores do, except that everything is more natural, often healthier, and usually much tastier.

The closest PCC store to the U. District is the Fremont branch. The Fremont PCC has an excellent deli filled with scrumptious options. Its wine and cheese selection is superb. The bulk foods section offers a number of tasty staples at low prices. The spices, tea, coffee, and grains cannot be beat. PCC offers a wide variety of organic and non-organic produce and meat. PCC supports locally-owned farms and works to educate consumers about what they eat. All people -- meat-eating, vegetarian, vegan, and allergic -- can be happily satisfied at PCC." Other nearby locations are at the north end of Green Lake near aurora, and in the View Ridge neighborhood. (Sep 2001)

• Madison Market, http://www.madisonmarket.com - This is a co-op similar to PCC, but there's just one store on Capitol Hill at Madison and 16th (Sept 2004).

• QFC, http://www.qfconline.com - large U. Village location includes a Noah's Bagels, open 24 hours (Sep 2001); Wallingford location on 45th St. has a decent but somewhat hidden natural/organic/bulk foods section upstairs, accessed from the southeast corner of the store, near the wines and grocery carts. There's also a QFC in the Roosevelt district two blocks north of Whole Foods. (Sep 2004)

• Safeway (on Brooklyn Ave. at 50th and at U. Village), http://www.safeway.com - produce and selection are much better at U. Village, but the Brooklyn location is convenient for the carless (Sep 2001)

• Trader Joe's, http://www.traderjoes.com - unique selection of reasonably priced, natural foods; limited produce selection at Roosevelt location, but other locations differ (Sep 2001)

New Capitol Hill location (Madison and 17th) has more produce (Sept 2004).

• Farmer's Market - WA farmers sell their fresh produce every Sat between 9am and 2pm in the months of May-Nov. Located just north of NE 50th St adjoining the Ave (in the parking area of University Heights school). Besides all other benefits, by shopping there you'd be supporting local farmers directly (rather than leaving them with only a trickle after wholesellers, truckers, and others in the long chain chip away at the revenue from these farmers' produce).

• Whole Foods, http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com -

Craig Kaplan: Everyone who cares at all about the groceries they buy should go straight to Whole Foods Market at 65th and Roosevelt. Top quality (somewhat expensive) stuff, but worth the money and the trip. (Sep 2001)

Valentin Razmov: If you want to buy organic (i.e., good quality) food, the places to look for it are Trader Joe's (close to campus and least expensive, but offers less variety than some of the others), Farmer's Market (prices comparable to or lower than those at other stores), Whole Foods (close to campus and has the best variety, prices are truly reasonable and falling over time), and PCC (same as Whole Foods, but the closest store is not close to campus).

Note that expensive (the way people usually think of organic food) is a relative term: if you are in the habit of eating out regularly (even at cheap, low-quality restaurants or food joints), you are most likely paying more than I am for food and are severely short-changing yourself in terms of quality. Food has costed me on average $10/day total and this includes the best food in Whole Foods. That price quote has been steady or slightly falling over the past 2.5 years. (Nov 2004)