This Week's Hot New Deals (IMHO)

Lots of sales to cover this week, with new sales starting today at Sprouts, Sunflower, and Whole Foods. Alfalfa's probably has a new one too, but their Facebook page still has the one that ended yesterday, so I'll cover them when I get my hands on that info. Meanwhile, Vitamin Cottage's sale continues well through September (click that link for my prior report). There are also a bunch of price wars to compare, so here goes.

Lobster tail wars: $5.99 each at Sprouts (5 ounce) and Sunflower (3.5-4 ounce) through September 7th.

Chicken sausage wars: $2.99 a pound at Sprouts (pork also included, links or bulk) and Sunflower through September 7th.

Whole chicken wars: $1.49 a pound at Sprouts (also cut up) through September 7th, air-chilled $1.49 a pound at Whole Foods through September 13th.

Boneless skinless chicken breast wars: $1.77 a pound (value pack) at Sprouts, $1.99 a pound (family pack) at Sunflower through September 7th. (Also Rosie organic ones for $6.99 a pound at Sunflower.)

Organic cherry/grape tomato wars: $1.50 for a dry pint of grape toms at Sprouts, $2.50 for 10 ounces of grape or cherry toms at Sunflower, both through September 7th, mixed medley cherry tomatoes $3.99 a pound at Whole Foods through September 13th.

Organic broccoli wars: $1.49 a pound at Sprouts, Sunflower wins with 99 cents a pound, both through September 7th.

At Sprouts through September 7th, their boneless New York steak looks like a good deal for the grill at $5.99 a pound, and Sprouts beats Sunflower with boneless skinless chicken breasts (value pack) at $1.77 a pound. Whole or cut up chickens are $1.49 a pound, but note that Whole Foods has their air-chilled ones for the same price right now. I like Sprouts' chicken sausage, and all varieties (pork, too) are $2.99 a pound. Previously frozen wild caught haddock is good at $5.99 a pound, and fresh coho salmon is $8.99 a pound. In organic produce, broccoli is good at $1.49 a pound, but Sunflower is better at 99 cents a pound. Sprouts also has organic white nectarines for $1.49 a pound, cantaloupe 69 cents a pound, pluots 99 cents a pound, grape tomatoes excellent at $1.50 a dry pint, and green grapes just $1.49 a pound, stunning for organic grapes (wonder if they're seedless). For your grilling pleasure, my favorite Nature's Grilling natural mesquite charcoal is $3.99 a bag, a stock up price to get you though grilling all fall.

At Sunflower through September 7th, boneless skinless chicken breasts (family pack) are good at $1.99 a pound, but Sprouts beats that by 22 cents. I'd consider bone-in ribeyes for the grill at $7.99 a pound, and their chicken sausage is $2.99 a pound, matching Sprouts. Sunflower has wild caught sockeye salmon for $8.99 a pound, but the ad doesn't specify fresh/frozen. In organic produce, both broccoli and cauliflower look great a 99 cents a pound, red or yellow onions are also 99 cents a pound, black plums are $1.50 a pound, and grape or cherry tomatoes are $2.50 for 10 ounces. (How does 10 ounces compare to Sprouts' dry pint above?) For conventional corn, they have Colorado-grown at 5 for $1 (better than the 3 for $1 at Sprouts). In yogurts, Voskos Greek at $1 each and Cascade Fresh at 59 cents both look good.

At Whole Foods through September 13th, organic produce is looking good, with zucchini and yellow squash both $1.49 a pound, yellow nectarines, gala apples, or exotic-sounding black seedless grapes both $1.99 a pound, and a mixed medley of cherry tomatoes for $3.99 a pound. I love their Maryland style blue crab cakes, well worth $10.99 a pound, but I doubt they'd fare well on a grill. Their fine, air-chilled whole chickens look good at $1.49 a pound, and I'm tempted towards beef with their chipotle cheddar burgers at $3.99 a pound. Also, Laughing Cow babybels look very good, half off at $2.50 a bag, and I might fall for the WFM two-bite chocolate chip cookies, nearly $2 off at $3 a container.