Your Local Farmers Market

Spring has not quite sprung in Seattle but it's still a perfect time to hit you local Farmers Market. Not only is the produce and fresh flowers appealing to the eye and palate, it's easy on the wallet too!

According to the U-District Farmers Market website, Stacy Jones' 2008 fall quarter statistics class conducted a price comparison study between the U-District Farmers Market, Whole Foods and QFC. They summarized their report:

"According to the FDA, the average family should spend about $330 a month on groceries. At the Farmers Market, $330 will get you 152.25 pounds of organic produce; at Whole Foods you can get 131.80 pounds, and at QFC a mere 118.6 pounds for the same $330. I.e., the average price per pound is lowest at the farmers market."

A few Seattle Farmers Markets:

• University District - Saturdays, 9am - 2pm, Year-round!
  
• West Seattle - Sundays, 10am - 2pm, Year-round!
  
• Broadway - Sundays, 11am - 3pm, May 10 - December 20
  
• Columbia City - Wednesdays, 3pm-7pm, April 29 - October 21
  
• Phinney - Fridays, 3pm - 7pm, May 29 - October 2
  
• Lake City - Thursdays, 3pm - 7pm, June 4 - October 29
  
• Magnolia - Saturdays, 10am - 2pm, May 23 - October 10

See full list of Washington State Farmers Market locations

AIG aka 21st Century Insurance

Troubled AIG has decided to sell their personal lines portion aka 21st Century. "The combination of 21st Century and Zurich Financial's 'Farmers Insurance' creates a three-way tie for third place in the private passenger auto insurance market," Farmers Chief Executive Robert Woudstra said in a media call.

Of course questions come to mind for too many of us as to whether this will just create another Monster Insurance Company? Example in point, a few years back when the airlines began to acquire other airlines becoming large mega air carriers, did our airfares become more simple to understand and easier on the wallet? Did service become better? Bigger isn't always better and consumers sometimes find themselves with less options, poorer service...paying more and getting less.