This Week's Hot Deals (IMHO)

For those of us who are not standing in line waiting for the opening of the new IKEA this morning, it's time for the new natural grocery sales in Boulder. We have new sales at Sprouts and Sunflower. Whole Foods should have a new one starting today too, but at the moment, they still have the flyer that expired yesterday posted. Meanwhile, the current sales at Alfalfa's and Vitamin Cottage continue (click those links for my prior reports). Here's the best of what I see in the new sales (with Whole Foods still to be added). Addendum: Whole Foods' new sale is now up, and you'll find my highlights here.

Chicken wars: boneless skinless chicken breasts (value pack) $1.88 a pound at Sprouts, boneless skinless chicken tenders (family pack) $1.88 a pound at Sunflower, both through August 3rd.

At Sprouts through August 3rd, in addition to the chicken, I'm very enthused about 25% off their entire health, beauty, vitamin and supplement department - stock up time. I'm also liking fresh wild caught Alaskan sockeye salmon for $9.99 a pound, beef stew meat for $3.99 a pound, and boneless ribeyes for $8.99 a pound. The fresh wild caught California white sea bass intrigues me for $8.99 a pound, but I need to learn more about it. In organic produce, bananas are 67 cents a pound, blueberries are $2.99 for six ounces, black plums are $1.29 a pound ($1.49 at Sunflower, except for today, last day at just 99 cents), a three pound bag of Granny Smith apples is $3.99, three-packs of romaine hearts are $1.99 each, and celery is just 99 cents a bunch (same at Sunflower). I'm also liking the whole Back to Nature line at 20% off, Tillmook cheddar at $3.99 for a half pound bar, and Sprouts' own cream cheese (including the lite variety) for $2.99 a pound.

At Sunflower through the 3rd, in addition to the chicken, I like their ground pork for $2.99 a pound. They're advertising fresh salmon fillets for a low $5.99 a pound, but the ad doesn't specify wild or farmed. In this wild fresh salmon season, that's the only type I'd buy right now. Organic produce looks good as usual, with one-the-vine cluster tomatoes for $1.99 a pound, celery 99 cents a bunch (same at Sprouts), green cabbage 99 cents a pound, red or black plums $1.49 a pound (black $1.29 at Sprouts), red or green leaf or romaine lettuce all $1.50 a bunch, and jewel yams 99 cents a pound. Select Seapoint Farms edamame veggie blends are $2.50 a bag (if it includes the Oriental blend, that makes a great, lightning quick stir-fry dinner), 60% double cream brie or aged extra sharp cheddar are both $6.99 a pound, and select Luigi Vitelli pastas are 99 cents a bag (wonder if including the whole wheat I always buy). Also, select Stonyfield organic frozen yogurts are $2.99 a pint. Once you try them and compare the calorie count (not to mention the cholesterol) to premium ice creams, I bet you'll join me as a Stonyfield fan.

And that will do it for this week's new sales.