Now that I am working a couple days a week in our Orlando office, I consider the extra commute worthwhile considering I am nearer freshfields farm, Super Target, Einstein Bros. Bagels, and even a Publix when necessary. I am happy to report that I hope to take on the European concept of fresh food and be able to stop at the freshfields farm next to my office more than once a week to pick up the freshest and ripest produce. An even bigger incentive is that many times the prices are better than the Maitland Farmer's Market, the produce generally looks better, and the stand doesn't have flies everywhere distracting me.

The freshfields farm website has a specials page with a disclaimer that prices change based on the availability of the product, which is what happened with the kiwis two weeks ago, but today, all the items I wanted were still specially priced. I was really excited about the price, and can see surviving until mid-next week without another grocery store visit (unless there's a sale I can't miss). Here's what I got:

• $1.67 Large head of broccoli (Last I checked was $2.50 at the Maitland Farmer's Market)
• $1.79 Zucchini (at $0.99 a pound, a steal; some of the thickest zucchini I have ever seen!)
• $1.30 Carrots (2 lbs. Wasn't sure if that was cheaper or more expenxive than Aldi)
• $3.34 Strawberries (3 lbs. for $5. Still the best strawberries I've had all season. Plan to take advantage as long as possible.)
• $8.10 Grand Total

Although, I take the opportunity to use up all spare change when I pay cash at the Maitland Farmer's Market, I am a creature of plastic--mainly because I like getting the extra points. I know many people have been taught a great way to stay out of debt is to not have credit cards, but we do have two. We find them very useful for traveling and for all of the items Paul has to buy for work, but gets reimbursed for. We feel that credit cards are safe for our family because we stick to a budget and know that we can always pay the cards off. So, the fact that this little produce stand takes credit cards makes me happy.