Over the years, I’ve heard criticisms of Thriftway which deserve closer consideration.

Let’s take price. Are Thriftway prices higher than elsewhere? Compared to Walmart, Target, or

Safeway … perhaps. However, the West Seattle Thriftway and PCC are often more expensive. Whole Foods, absolutely. Metropolitan Market – yikes! Only Trader Joe’s is consistently lower, but their produce doesn’t thrill me. And Costco can’t beat our Thriftway’s frequently discounted Tillamook cheese!

In 2009, as the global economic collapse expanded (brought on intentionally by deregulation and scams), our income dropped by 32.1 percent. Struggling with this new budget, I really appreciate Thriftway’s consistent deals on fresh produce. I love their customer service, and trust me, I speak up regularly. I love their reduced-price meat and breads shelf and early summer ice cream deals. Their GMO-free shelf labels are already increasing my consumer-right-to-know, even as I work for I-522 to pass.

We all grew up with artificially lowered food prices. So, let’s remember that environmental changes, mono-cropping, skyrocketing oil prices, honeybee colony collapse and other human errors are only leading us back to realistic food prices.

Truly, local food resources = freedom and independence. Plant fruit-bearing shrubs and ground covers, fruit and nut-bearing trees, garden with a friend, and support your neighborhood chicken farmer. Forage in the forest with your children, dry, freeze, and can nature’s bounty.

We are all living under stress, and that stress is likely to grow in the years to come.  Now is the time to cultivate our ability to see the silver lining, notice someone’s best effort and appreciate what’s going well. There may always be something to complain about, but there will always be infinitely more for which we can feel gratitude.

— March Twisdale