Saturday, March 24, 2007

More merchant changes: the Pet Lady (pet toys) is gone. Bee Natural will extend its stall into that space, on the opposite side of the seating area nearest Arch Street. As reported last week, Andros has also give up its stall.

The Scrapplefest is set for Saturday, April 21. So far, the RTM has lined up Hatfield as a major sponsor. In his monthly newsletter to merchants RTM General Manager Paul Steinke is asking the merchants to come up with prepared foods featuring scrapple. Like, scrapple ice cream. (Hey, if an ice cream shop in Bar Harbor can do lobster, Bassett's can do scrapple!)

Customer counts through March 4 are running better than five percent ahead of 2006, according to Steinke's newsletter. This year the RTM counted 875,706 vs. 832,500 for the same period last year. Both years represent counts prior to the opening of the Flower Show, but do include other big convention center shows, including the wholesale crafts exhibition which is a large draw.

As of Friday, Iovine no longer offered those one-pound clamshells of Florida strawberries for a buck, though they do have one-pint containers for a dollar. However, O.K. Lee was selling the one-pound packs for only 99 cents.

It's the end of the clementine season. If you find them at all they are likely to be expensive. However, Iovine had a reasonable deal on Spanish mandarins (tangerines): a five-pound box for $4.99. Mexican Altaulfo mangoes are a buck each.

Still a couple of weeks away from seeing ramps. No fiddleheads yet, either, though in some years they appear as soon as early March.

Here's my shopping list from Friday:

HATVILLE DELI ($0.75)
Eggs (half dozen)

LANCASTER COUNTY DAIRY ($3.30)

Milk

MARTIN'S QUALITY MEATS ($3.45)
Turkey bacon

FAIR FOOD FARMSTAND ($6.26)

Ground beef

GIUNTA'S PRIME SHOP ($3.64)

Chicken, boneless, skinless breast

12th STREET CANTINA ($5.75)
Enchilada sauce

IOVINE BROTHERS ($8.58)
Mandarin oranges
Spring mix salad
Baking potatoes

SALUMERIA ($15.80)
Olives
Torrone

HERSHEL'S EAST SIDE DELI ($5.50)

Lox

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