In the Twin Cities metro, grapes were 3.99 a pound, tomatoes 2.79 a pound and Hormel Black Label Bacon, nothing really special, was 6.79 a pound. However, milk, which used to be 1.99 to 2.49 is now 2.99 a gallon. Chalk that up to being a dairy state I suppose.
Know the area. My mother grew up on the iron range. Hibbing, Superior, etc. She went to High School in Duluth. All of the relatives from Duluth are gone now, but I liked the area.
Bacon is rediculous and it will not stay that high. Hogs reproduce so fast that before long there will be a glut again. The issue is feed cost. All grains are high, in tight supply and of course ADM, Continental and Cargill “own” the grain market.
I got bacon at Costco in the 4-lb pack for about $2.89 /lb.
Milk -- Rainbow had a special at $1.69 / gallon with coupon; Kwik-Trip has milk in half gallon bags for $1.19 or $1.29 -- but last fall they were as low as $0.89.
The Cub Foods in Plymouth had a manager's special on 93% lean ground beef for $2.49 /lb in 1-lb. chubs (it is normally $4.39 or $4.69) so I bought 16 lbs and froze all but 3 lbs.
Shop around; use coupons; match coupons to store specials. Check out the sites http://www.couponmom.com/printable-coupons-242 and http://www.livefabuless.com/ (on the latter site scroll down the right-of-center frame headed by "Coupon matchups" and click on a store to find details on store-by-store specials which can be matched to recent and current manufacturer's coupons.
Rainbow will double manufacturers' coupons (up to $1 face value unless prohibited on the coupon) -- up to five coupons on Wednesdays year-round and up to ten coupons on Saturdays through June 11.
I had a shopping trip a couple of weeks ago at Rainbow where I bought ~ $600 worth of food and goodies and paid about $320.
Cheers!