DATE: Wednesday, March 19, 1997             TAG: 9703180146

SECTION: FLAVOR                  PAGE: F1   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: MARKET REPORT 

SOURCE: BY KAREN SANTOS, VIRGINIAN-PILOT STAFF 

                                            LENGTH:   56 lines

FLORIDA SMILES ON PRODUCE PRICES HERE

BETTER WEATHER is producing new vegetable crops in Florida and lowering produce prices locally.

Farm Fresh has green beans for 89 cents a pound. Green bell peppers and cucumbers are three for 99 cents and 10-pound bags of white potatoes are 99 cents.

Golden delicious apples are 59 cents a pound, pink grapefruit are four for 99 cents, jumbo yellow onions are 29 cents a pound and 8-pound bags of oranges are $2.99 at Rack & Sack.

Hannaford has Granny Smith apples for 79 cents a pound and red bell peppers for 99 cents a pound.

The new 3 Stores 1 Roof in Chesapeake has bananas for 19 cents a pound, iceberg lettuce for 39 cents a head, cantaloupes for 79 cents each and pineapples for 99 cents each.

Fresh kale and collards are 2 pounds for $1 at Farmer Jack.

Be-Lo has 8-ounce packages of mushrooms for $1.29, turnips for 69 cents a pound and kiwi, four for $1.

Poultry specials include whole frying chickens for 49 cents a pound at Farm Fresh, 5-pound bags of fryer drumsticks for 68 cents a pound at Rack & Sack. Five-pound bags of boneless chicken breasts are $1.78 a pound at Farmer Jack. Fryer leg quarters are 49 cents a pound in 5-pound bags at Be-Lo.

Break out the grill. Rack & Sack has boneless round steak for $1.48 a pound and assorted pork chops for $1.58 a pound. Pick up boneless sirloin for $2.99 a pound, lean ground beef for 89 cents a pound and T-bone steak for $4.99 a pound at Hannaford. Country style pork spareribs are $1.99 a pound at Be-Lo; a 10-pound pack sells for 89 cents a pound.

Grand opening specials at 3 Stores 1 Roof include Alaskan snow crab clusters for $2.98 a pound, fresh pork shoulder picnics for 58 cents a pound and bottom round roast for $1.48 a pound.

Dairy specials this week include 16-ounce Blue Bonnet quarters for 49 cents and 8-ounce Breyer's yogurt for 49 cents each at Hannaford. All varieties of Oscar Mayer Funpack Lunchables are $1.28 at Rack & Sack. Kraft (12-ounce) packages of single cheese slices are $2.29 at Farmer Jack. Be-Lo has a variety of 8-ounce packages of Heluva Good cheeses for $2.19.

On the shelf

Some of us have a love/hate relationship with cheese. We love the flavor but hate the fat. Healthy Choice offers a solution, not only with its fat-free line but also with hints to help us cook low-fat without sacrificing taste and texture.

For a 15-recipe brochure by Healthy Choice chefs using fat-free cheeses and a cooking wheel that outlines simple tips to ensure the best results, send your name and address to: ``It's Cheesey! It's Easy!,'' Healthy Choice Cheese, P.O. Box 8797, St. Louis, Mo. 63101-8797. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

HEALTHY CHOICE

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