Two Years In The Making, Market Square Grocery Store’s Opening Is Near

On a cloudy and cool spring morning, Downtown Pittsburgh’s first grocery in five years was emerging from its shell like a butterfly from its cocoon.

Some workers stocked a freezer with frozen shrimp, lobster langostino and other seafood. Others handled deliveries of cheeses and other goods. Yet others trained to use the cash register.

At the back of 435 Market St., bottles of imported red and white Italian wines beckoned visitors. Pastas, cereals, chocolates, pickles, olives, teas, cookies, jelly, potato chips and sauces crammed the shelves.

“ ‘Finally’ is the word,” developer Ralph Falbo said as he talked to two friends and surveyed the scene.

Read more:

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2015/04/15/Market-Square-to-get-grocery-store-soon/stories/201504150099

Vegan Festival Offers A Taste Of Plant-Based Eating

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Allegheny County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is a festival the cows, pigs and chickens would enjoy.

The second Pittsburgh Vegan Festival is slated for Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the North Hills. The event welcomes everyone, not just vegans.

“We want anyone interested in knowing more about a plant-based diet or healthier eating options to come. And it is very family friendly,” said Amy “Amethyst” Cottrill.

She started the event to share information about a growing lifestyle — eating a plant-based diet. Many vegans also eliminate all animal-related products from their lives. The first festival was held in July and the response was overwhelming,she said.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/life/food/2014/10/30/Vegan/stories/201410230011

Grocery Prices Keeping Climbing; Up 7 Percent In Last Year

Mary Bouras never expected to get sticker shock from a pound of butter.

But when the grocery staple reached more than $5 a pound at most stores, the 66-year-old Dover resident said it was hard not to.

Last week, she paid $5.79 for butter at Weis, and three other grocery chains in the area had similar prices.

“I know it’s just life and prices go up, but $6 for butter is a lot for me,” Bouras said.

Six months ago, she would have paid $1 less for the same item at the same store. A year ago, it would have been $1.20 cheaper, and five years ago it would have been $1.80 less.

Read more: http://www.yorkdispatch.com/breaking/ci_26672787/grocery-prices-keeping-climbing-up-7-percent-last

Do You Have Hot Pockets? The Product Is Under Recall

Csrees (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

York, PA – Giant has pulled from its shelves packages of Hot Pockets Philly Steak & Cheese as a result of a recent recall of meat products.

Rancho Feeding Corp. recalled millions of pounds of meat products after the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that the roducts were produced without all required inspections.

To date, Giant has not received any reports of illness associated with the recall.

To see a list of the recalled products, click here: http://www.ydr.com/business/ci_25163369/giant-recalls-hot-pockets

Buy Fresh Buy Local invites York County Residents To Discover Locally Grown Food And To Support Area Farmers

“Food. 1-buy it with thought, 2-cook it with care, 3-use less wheat and meat, 4-buy local foods, 5-serve just enough… – NARA – 512592 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  We here at Roy’s Rants fully support any Buy Fresh Buy Local program!

York County Buy Fresh Buy Local invites you to learn more about the home grown goodness York County has to offer.

Miller Plant Farm will host the Tastes of York event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 15 with sample goods from local vendors and musical entertainment.

BFBL is about supporting local farmers and growers and helping consumers to un derstand the importance of buying locally grown foods and how to find those local growers.

“Nutrition is tied to freshness. Why buy some thing that is shipped when you can find fresh food grown right here in York County?,” Dave Miller said.

The proceeds from Tastes of York go to sup port Buy Fresh Buy Local and to help pay for the food guide for this year, he said.

Read more: http://www.inyork.com/community/ci_23384025/homegrown-goodness

Carjacking Suspect Has History Of Stealing Lobsters, Fine Meats

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Editor’s note:  This is what’s known as having champagne taste and a beer pocketbook/wallet with a healthy dose of stupid thrown in for good measure!  Lock him up and thrown away the KEY!

It didn’t take long for employees at a Weis Kings Market in west Allentown to realize they had a lobster thief in their grocery store Thursday afternoon.

Charles A. Shumanis III, who was arrested Thursday after police say he carjacked a man in South Whitehall following a botched retail theft attempt at the supermarket, had been charged the week before with stealing more than $160 worth of lobsters from the store, according to court documents.

Hours after allegedly stealing from the market Feb. 23, Shumanis went to the Wegmans, 3900 Tilghman St., where he took $150 worth of meat, according to court documents.

Shumanis already had four prior retail theft convictions, making the fifth and sixth retail theft charges on Feb. 23 felonies, police said. He added a seventh charge Thursday, to go along with more serious charges of carjacking a man and dragging him 50 feet in the Friendly’s Restaurant parking lot in South Whitehall.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-carjacking-suspect-history-stealing-lobsters-me-20120302,0,7455738.story

Stupid News

A highly intoxicated, 65-year-old man from Carlisle (old enough to know better) was arrested for the second time on Sunday after trying to steal a rack of ribs by shoving them down his pants!  Really!?!  Hey!  Let’s all tie one on and head over to Giant to steal some pork products!

The Darwin award-winner pulled the same stunt on May 22nd when he pleaded guilty to theft and public drunkenness (say it ain’t so Joe).

Because this is the second time the senior citizen has shoved ribs down his pants and tried to leave a grocery store without paying, (never a bright move) he is being charged with a second-degree misdemeanor.

To add to his stellar list of accomplishments, Sunday’s attempted rib heist was this dude’s sixth citation for public drunkenness in less than five months.  Sounds like somebody has a little alcohol problem!

Collegeville Couple Purchase Pottstown Farmers Market – Expect Big Things!

A Collegeville couple has purchased the Pottstown Farmer’s Market and will begin by doing some major cleaning and refurbishing.  After that task is complete, they hope to attract new local vendors selling fresh grown food.  Some old favorites will remain like Wegman’s, King’s Produce and Dairy and Mosteller’s Seafood.

The couple is also looking at possibly expanding the market’s hours.  They want to be part of Pottstown’s revitalization.  We wish Ben Moscia and his wife Elise LeBoutiller much success.  Having a flourishing farmer’s market in our downtown will be help draw shoppers to High Street.

Taco Bell Fights Back Against Claims They Serve “Mystery Meat”

Here is Taco Bell‘s official response to the lawsuit that claims their beef does not meet the USDA requirements to be called BEEF.  AKA “beefgate”.

http://www.pwrnewmedia.com/2011/taco_bell/beef_grade/downloads/TB_Beef_ad_FINAL_BW.pdf

Sounds like a counter suit is in the works!

Taco Bell “Beefgate” – Where Is Clara Peller When We Need Her?

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Anybody of a certain age must remember Clara Peller in those hysterical “Where’s The Beef” commercials for Wendy’s.  Now it seems Ms. Peller’s services could once again be used.

Taco Bell‘s “beef” was found to contain less than 35% beef!  It does not meet the USDA‘s requirements to be called beef.  An Alabama law firm is suing, not for monetary gain, but to have the word beef removed from Taco Bell’s advertising.  The “mystery meat” is full of binders and fillers.  Taco Bell vigorously defends their advertising.

So I leave you with one of Clara Peller’s iconic Wendy’s commercials: