For January, Dungeness crab should cost less than normal. It will likely still set you back, but just not as much this month. Some reports say it could cost 50% less than normal, depending on where your grocer gets its supply. Expect a good deal to be about $4 to $6 a pound.
It's also a good time to get a ham! Get one and store it for your upcoming football playoff or Super Bowl parties. It will also be a prime time to buy less expensive cuts of meat, like beef or pork shanks, for use in stews and such. Another good buy this month: turkey. Look for bargains on turkey legs, which you can likely find for under $1/pound and use for soups or gumbo.
Other items that you might see a price reduction compared to recent weeks are citrus fruits and blueberries. Navel oranges can be especially affordable, as much as 25 to 30 percent off. Grapefruit will often be discounted by 15 to 20 percent. Another deal this month: Minneola tangelos should be about 25 to 30 percent less. Clementines should still be a good buy.... But blueberries are hitting the peak of the season in South America, where it's summer. Prices will likely remain the same, but buyers will get a lot more fruit.
For the folks looking to be more health-conscious (at least to kick off the New Year) salad greens and cooking greens will be a good price. Another good buy this month: yogurt. Expect specials and promotions all month with discounts of 20 percent, he says.
If you're more of the pre-made food purchaser, you can expect "pick-me-up" foods like soups to be 20 percent off and fruit juices to be 25 percent off.
If our mention of stashing a ham for your football parties got you thinking ahead, it will soon be a good time to stock up on snacks for the Super Bowl at the start of February. Look for discounts starting around Jan. 15 for: domestic beer, snacks ranging from chips and pretzels to popcorn and snack mixes, and frozen appetizers. Then, the week before the Super Bowl, look for deals on delivery pizza like two-for-one specials, package deals and other price breaks.
