Where to Buy Food During the COVID-19 Outbreak

As a result of the Coronavirus, a practice called social distancing has been put into place.  It’s aim is to stop or slow the spread of the disease through the physical distancing. Not only does it protect individuals, but also the people around them as the chances of people receiving the disease is greatly reduced if they are not in contact with as many people. Furthermore, it makes it easier to abide by the rule of staying 6 feet away from others, as that is the distance needed for the virus to be passed on to others. However, in some cases, such as shopping for groceries, it is hard to maintain that distance. Previously in another article, we discussed the protocols that should be put into place in order to safely by food. In this article, we will take it one step further to discuss where exactly can you buy food and if it can be done online to be picked up or directly delivered to your door.

---

Pickup

The following stores offers you the option to pick out your groceries online, and then pick them up at the store. No need to spend the time inside the store, thus reducing your chances of interacting with others. Furthermore, many stores now allow contact free pickup through contacting the customer’s phone to confirm your identity before moving the groceries onto your car.

• Walmart
  • no additional fee
  • https://grocery.walmart.com/
  • $30 minimum must be spent on each order
• Kroger
  • no additional fee
  • https://www.kroger.com/
  • download the Kroger app for ease of purchase
    • it will tell you when there are open slots for pickup or delivery
• Papa Joe’s
  • no additional fee
  • https://www.papajoesmarket.com/
  • orders that are not picked up with be available for 24 after designated pick up time
  • free bread and other daily hot deal items are not available for pick up
  • no refunds are issued for orders that are not picked up
• 168
  • https://shop.168asianmart.com/
  • See below for the pick up schedule

Due to increases in demand for pick up options, stores will have longer wait times, limited inventory, and limited pick up time slots. Thus, when you are buying groceries online, keep than in mind as many stores may not have pickup time slots available.

---

Delivery

Ordering online allows your groceries to be delivered straight to your door. Quick, easy, and safe.

• Instacart
  • https://www.instacart.com/
  • additional fee of $9.99 a month
  • prices offered are often higher than in store prices
  • offers produce from a variety of stores
    • Costco
    • Kroger
    • Fresh Thyme
    • Meijer
    • Aldi
    • and many more
• Walmart
  • https://grocery.walmart.com/
  • 15 day free trial
  • $12.95 monthly or $98 for annual membership
  • $30 minimum must be spent on each order
  • check if your address is valid for delivery
• Amazon Prime Now
  • https://primenow.amazon.com/onboard?forceOnboard=1&sourceUrl=%2Fhome
  • offers produce from Whole Foods
  • no additional shipping fee
  • needs to be an Amazon Prime member
    • annual Prime membership: $119
    • annual student Prime membership: $58
      • for college student, must have a valid .edu email address

Online shopping might be more expensive in general, however, the hassle of having to be driven to a physical location will be saved. Although this process is easy, there are often not enough people delivering to satisfy the demand. Thus, be sure to keep an eye out for an open delivery slot.

---

---

By shopping via pickup or delivery, you will ensure that you and your family stay in the safest environment possible while still being able to enjoy fresh produce from the the store. The mYe BEAT team is happy to keep you up to date. Check in on us every week for new content, and until next time – shop safely!