RVA Deals

We Richmonders sure do love our Christmas hams! Find what yours is going to cost this year and get the lowdown on the best deals around town this week.

December 16, 2009; 12:00 PM • by Alison Brown

Christmas and Ham, a combination almost as ubiquitous as Thanksgiving and Turkey.

According to Wikipedia:

A Christmas Ham or Yule Ham is a traditional dish associated with modern Christmas, Yule and Scandinavian Jul. The tradition is suggested to have begun amongst the Germanic peoples as a tribute to Freyr (pr Ingwi), a god in Germanic Paganism associated with boars, harvest and fertility.

I found this 2-minute YouTube video helpful explaining the basics of ham shopping, aka The City Ham and The Country Ham.

Spiral sliced hams

• $1.49/lb Gwaltney honey or brown sugar at Kroger
• $1.48/lb Smithfield at Ukrop’s
• $4.99/lb Wellshire Farms at Whole Foods

Shank portion smoked ham

• $.98/lb Smithfield at Ukrop’s
• $.98/lb Gwaltney at Kroger

Miscellaneous

• Hickory Hills whole boneless round ham $2.29/lb at Kroger
• Whole or half Esskay Silver Label ham $1.88/lb at Ukrop’s
• Red Eye fully cooked country ham $2.98/lb at Ukrop’s
• Hormel Cure 81 half ham $3.98/lb at Ukrop’s

(No ham for me this year. My husband, ever the non-traditionalist, is bound and determined to turn out a Beef Wellington for Christmas dinner. I have ix-nayed the foie gras component; we’ll be substituting mushrooms for the pâté.)

Veggie Top Pick

10-lb bag Kroger russet potatoes $2.49, 4-lb bag Ukrop’s white potatoes $1.50

Fruit Top Pick

Whole pineapples $2.29 at Tom Leonard’s (or 2 for $4), and $2.99 at Whole Foods

Dairy Top Pick

Kraft chunk and shredded cheese are $1.67 at Kroger, Ukrop’s, and Target. Kraft Singles are also $1.67 at Kroger – Use “$.50 off 1 Kraft singles” coupon from the 12/6 SmartSource to get them for $.67

Staples Top Pick

Gold Medal All-Purpose Flour (5 lbs) is $1.49 at Ukrop’s with Savings Spot coupon, limit 4

Snacks & Sweets Top Pick

Cheetos, Lay’s, and Tostitos tortilla chips $2.48 at Kroger (as well as Tostitos salsa & queso dips)

Beverage Top Pick

Coke 12-packs are $3 at Ukrop’s, and Pepsi is 4 for $11 at Kroger (must buy 4).

Household Top Pick

$1.99 Ziploc bags at Walgreen’s, with in-ad coupon, limit 3. Combine with the $1 off 2 coupon from the 12/6 SmartSource.

Find more deals by accessing the stores’ weekly ads online:

• Prices valid 12/13-12/19: Kroger, Ukrop’s, Target, Walgreen’s, CVS
• Prices valid 12/16-12/22: Tom Leonard’s, Whole Foods, Fresh Market

December 16, 2009 12:00 PM 0