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| - I welcome any Trader Joe's in my life, whether it's in Maryland, the District of Columbia, or Pennsylvania. I would drive several miles farther and pass three supermarkets just to get to a Trader Joe's. In Pittsburgh, I could have gone to a few neighboring Giant Eagles or the Whole Foods, but my culinary needs don't require truffle oil or expensive cheeses. As one who is perfectly content with the essentials (milk, eggs, cereal, fruits, vegetables, bread, canned beans, and the occasional extras), Trader Joe's suits my needs.
As with any Trader Joe's, the items are almost always in stock (except for the seasonal items), the staff are ebullient and extremely helpful, and the store is clean. The one major plus, however, are the prices. Many of the items are almost always cheaper than those found in big name stores. Also, the taste and quality of its products are identical if not better than brand-name products.
I am also appreciating the fact that Trader Joe's is selling more organic products, such as Greek yogurt, produce, sauces, meats, and breads. For some people, organic products might be the determining factor in choosing between Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, I really only care about buying certain foods that are organic, such as fruits and some vegetables, which Trader Joe's offers.
Because my career is in the healthcare field, I can be very short on time. That's when Trader Joe's steps up to save the day--or rather, my growling stomach and cranky mind--with its expansive selection of frozen foods. It offers frozen ethnic foods, burgers (even vegetable burgers), fish, vegetables, desserts, and everything in between. Many of them are priced reasonably, so whether you are an incoming college student whose meal preparation skills are limited to pouring a bowl of cereal or heating up some water for those delicious ramen noodles or a refined cook who just can't bear to look at a spatula and a skillet anymore that day, you will not go hungry.
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