My gym closed, line at Costco is too long, so how am I supposed to get any exercise?

CORONAVIRUS PANIC BUYING: Lines to check out at the Costco Business Center in Hackensack today were short, compared to Saturday, above and below. The warehouse was still out of toilet paper, but had bottles of spring water, as well as purified water. There was no spring water available in half-liter bottles on Monday.

WATER LIMITS: Costco members were allowed to buy only one pack of bottled water today.

The spread of Covid-19 endangers

older Americans in other ways

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- Since I retired a dozen years ago from a sedentary night job on a newspaper copy desk, I've relied on food shopping and the gym to get my exercise and stay healthy.

In 2012, I supplemented the gym and food shopping with volunteering at a hospital, pushing patients in wheelchairs and doing other chores that required a lot of walking. 

I've covered from 2 miles to 3 miles during a 4-hour volunteer shift on both Wednesdays and Fridays, according to the app on my smartphone.

But the spread of the coronavirus has changed all of that, and now I find that only food shopping provides me with the opportunity to exercise.

As I've always done, I've boosted my steps by parking as far away from the store entrance as possible.

No more volunteering

First, the hospital cancelled the volunteer appreciation lunch and award ceremony scheduled for April, then closed the Volunteer Office altogether.

This week, my gym closed. 

And this morning, I drove into the parking lot of the Costco Wholesale in Teterboro, N.J., only to find a line of shoppers (100 to 150 is my guess) with carts lined up in the rain single file, waiting to be allowed into the warehouse.

Costco decided to limit the number of members in the store at one time, and Teterboro police were on duty to make sure shoppers complied.

Instead of waiting in that line, I walked over to the nearby Walmart, waited on a short line inside the store, and an employee gave me a 12-roll package of toilet paper, which cost about $8.50.

Costco in Hackensack

So, on the way home, I stopped at the Costco Business Center in Hackensack, where I live, and picked up:

A 10-liter bag-in-box of extra-virgin olive oil from Spain, two large bottles of 100% grape juice, a pack of half-liter bottles of Poland Springs natural spring water, a smaller pack of Poland Springs flavored, zero-calorie seltzer; and a 2-pound package of organic Mejdool Dates.

The Business Center also was out of toilet paper, Lysol wipes and other cleaning products.

Counting steps

According to the Health app on my smartphone, I've done .65 miles or 1,500 steps so far today.

In February and so far in March, I've averaged 1.1 mile a day, but my average surely will be less now that I no longer have volunteering and an occasional visit to the gym to supplement food shopping.

On Sunday, I stopped at the Aldi near my home for jars of organic salsa and cans of organic tomatoes, the latter for Pasta with Garlic, Tomatoes and Oil with vegetables I plan to prepare tonight.

Later that morning, I drove to the Super H Mart in Ridgefield, N.J., for the fresh, wild-caught fish we prepare for our Sunday dinner.

On Monday, I also shopped at Whole Foods Market in Paramus, N.J., where I get most of the organic produce and organic pasta we eat, but found many empty shelves.

Message from Costco

Not long after I posted this, I saw this message from the CEO of Costco on controlling the number of members in the warehouse:

Dear Costco Member,

As the global effect of coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, Costco is firmly committed to the health and safety of our members and employees, and serving our communities. We are closely monitoring the changing situation, and complying with public health guidance.

As many of you have noticed, we’ve experienced a surge of business during this time. As a result, we’ve taken steps to control the number of members in our warehouses and asked that members and employees practice social distancing.

We’ve also reduced some services.

We’ve increased our protocols in sanitizing surfaces, including shopping cart handles, merchandise shelves, front-end belts and registers. Limits have been implemented on certain items to help ensure more members are able to access the merchandise they want and need. Our buyers and suppliers are working to ensure in-demand merchandise as well as everyday favorites are available in our warehouses.

 As new information becomes available, management is keeping warehouse staff well informed so they can respond swiftly and appropriately. While the circumstances continue to change and we modify our operations as necessary, we thank you for your patience and cooperation. As new developments occur, be assured we are committed to taking care of our members and employees and to our mission of providing low prices, quality merchandise and exceptional service.

We extend our sincere thanks to Costco members and employees worldwide for their ongoing support and loyal dedication during this challenging time.   

Thank you,Craig Jelinek, President and CEO, Costco Wholesale

CHECKING TWICE: At the Costco Business Center, an employee, left, checks what's in your cart against your receipt before you are allowed to leave the warehouse.

UPDATE: Closed and cancelled are words of the day as coronavirus panic intensifies

ONLY THE ESSENTIALS: In response to the coronavirus, the food court at the Costco Business Center was closed. A favorite item was the 18-inch pizza with vegetables for $9.95.

Toilet paper sells out because

 people "are scared shitless"

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- Public schools were closed on Friday out of "abundance of caution" as more cases of the coronavirus were reported in Bergen County, the most populous of New Jersey's 21 counties.

So, we made a small list and my wife, who didn't have to report to work as a school-crossing guard, drove over to the Costco Business Center for a handful of items, including bottled spring water and toilet paper.

Meanwhile, I dressed for my usual 4-hour stint on Fridays as a volunteer at a nearby hospital.

When my wife got to Costco, she couldn't find any shopping carts outside or in the lobby. She entered the warehouse, only to find it packed with shoppers.

She seemed to be saying the panic buying was even worse than what I encountered when I made a video on March 7:

See: Panic buying at the Costco Business Center

 in the time of the coronavirus

She saw other shoppers without a cart following those with a cart to their vehicles so they could take the cart from them, enter the warehouse and shop.

She returned on Saturday, but the warehouse still was out of toilet paper and bottled spring water.

I shopped today at Aldi in Hackensack and the Super H Mart in Ridgefield, N.J.

See: Coronavirus Food Shopping:

 Did H Mart suspend free food samples?

Volunteer office closed

Meanwhile, I went to Lowes in Paramus, N.J., on Friday to discuss a fence project for our home, then set out for the hospital where I have been volunteering twice a week since March 2012.

As I was leaving Lowes, I went to see if the store had any toilet paper (the shelf was empty), then stopped to ask a cashier if more was due to come in.

She asked, as have many people, why people are buying so much toilet paper, and I related a joke I heard from satirist Bill Maher last Friday night:

"[Toilet paper is] the first thing that sells out  because people are scared shitless.

"There's even a new song about it by that new band, 'Panic at Costco,'" Maher cracked.

As I was driving on Cedar Lane in Teaneck, I got a call from the hospital informing me that so few volunteers showed up on Friday the volunteer office would be closing.

I went in on Wednesday, and got a good workout pushing patients in wheelchairs, fetching blood from the Blood Bank and taking specimens to the lab.

No patient visits

But on Wednesday, because of the coronavirus, I wasn't able to visit any patients recovering from open-heart surgery, as I've done as a member of the hospital's Visiting Hearts program since March 2012.

I joined the volunteer program after recovering from my own open-heart surgery for a new aortic valve in September 2011.

National emergency

President Trump declared a national emergency on Friday, two days after a confused and confusing televised speech in which he mistakenly said no goods from Europe would be allowed into the United States.

The president's initial response minimizing the virus, also known as COVID-19, and his many lies and false statements caused the stock market to tank and oil prices to drop.

The Nov. 3 presidential election can't come soon enough for millions of Americans who have seen the nation torn apart by Trump's racism, praise of white supremacists and tax cuts for the 1%.

Meanwhile, for the second year in a row, New Jersey homeowners like me are only able to deduct $10,000 of their property taxes from what's due the federal government (that's only half my yearly bill).

Read: During pandemic, try to laugh 

to keep from crying

Read: So how am I supposed to get any exercise?

Should you cash your rewards certificate from Costco or use all that moola to shop?

FISTFUL OF DOLLARS: Today, I cashed my second Costco Wholesale credit card reward certificate (cash rebates on warehouse and Costco.com purchases, gasoline, restaurant meals, travel and spending at other stores) at the Costco Business Center in Hackensack. That brought my total cash rebates this year to $451.91.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- I took the money and ran.

In the past, I'd use the cash rebates from my no-fee Costco Anywhere Visa Card to make more purchases at the warehouse in Teterboro or the Costco Business Center in Hackensack.

But that makes no sense when I can use Costco as an ATM and make those purchase with the Costco credit card, earning even more cash rebates.

My cash rebates -- awarded in February -- totaled $451.91 this year, including the $189.78 I received today. 

Compare that to my annual Costco Executive Membership fee of $120.

In August, when my membership automatically renews, I'll get another 2% cash back on my purchases by virtue of my executive membership.

I made a few purchases at the Costco Business Center on South River Street today, and charged them to the Costco credit card:

A large Golden Pineapple ($1.99), a 5-pound bag of grated Parmesan Cheese ($20.19), and a 24-bottle variety pack of flavored Poland Springs Sparkling Spring Water ($8.49).

AT THE COSTCO BUSINESS CENTER: My purchases today included a 5-pound bag of grated Parmesan Cheese I use in pasta, fish and egg dishes, such as those you'll find at Victor's Healthy Kitchen on YouTube.

Costco Wholesale sells more organic fruit, including strawberries, but it's hit or miss

ORGANIC FRUIT? Conventional strawberries, above, and conventional blueberries, below, at Costco Wholesale in Teterboro today.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- Last week, when my wife mentioned she saw organic strawberries at Costco Wholesale in Teterboro, my only question was why she didn't buy any.

Conventional strawberries are grown with a lot of pesticides so I've been trying to buy only organic, usually relying on sales at Whole Foods Market in Paramus or H Mart in Little Ferry, where they were $1.99 a pound one Sunday.

But when we went to the Teterboro Costco this morning, I couldn't find any organic strawberries or any of the organic blueberries she also saw last week.

That reminded me of a Costco truism: 

When you see it, buy it or risk not seeing the item again or at least not for a while.

Still, Costco has greatly widened its selection of organics in the last few years, including bread, pasta sauces, salsa, granola and quinoa.

Where the warehouse club is weakest is in selling vast amounts of beef, pork and chicken raised on harmful antibiotics, including a wildly popular but low-quality rotisserie bird.

ORGANIC COFFEE FROM COLOMBIA: A Rainforest Blend of organic coffee beans from Colombia was less than $5 a pound at the Teterboro Costco. I will grind them at the Costco Business Center near my home in Hackensack, and use them in my drip coffee maker.

WIND ENERGY: Cafe Cubano, another organic coffee bean at Costco, is produced with 100% wind energy. 

LOW-QUALITY POULTRY: The Teterboro Costco offers a barnyard of Kirkland Signature whole chickens and parts, above and below, raised on antibiotics that are harmful to humans, who are becoming resistant to antibiotics prescribed by their doctors. The package doesn't even say whether these birds are vegetarian fed.

ANTIBIOTIC FREE: The Teterboro Costco also sells Empire Kosher Chicken Breasts, above, and Perdue Whole Cornish Hens, below, that are raised without antibiotics

SOCK IT TO ME: A great non-food item I bought today are these Kirkland Signature Men's Cushion Foot Dress Socks, which are over the calf and made from a cotton blend. Five pairs were $9.99 or about $2 each.

FILL UP: Our purchases in the back seat of my wife's 2010 Toyota Prius, a gas-electric hybrid she topped up at the Costco gas station in Teterboro, where a gallon of regular is about 30 cents less than elsewhere after you figure in the 4% rebate from the Costco credit card.

LINE OUT THE DOOR: Costco members waiting impatiently at the Teterboro warehouse, above and below, for the doors to open at 10 this morning.

Exposing excessive salt, sugar in processed foods; plus, organic spaghetti from Italy

MARONE! Sugar is just as worrisome as excessive sodium in pasta sauces. A half-cup of Frescorti-brand Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce contains about 2 teaspoons of sugar in addition to 27% of the maximum amount of sodium you're supposed to consume in one day.

SWEET TOOTH? Rienzi-brand Marinara contains a little over 2 teaspoons of sugar and 25% of the maximum daily recommended sodium in a half-cup.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- If you love pasta, shopping for a bottled sauce without too much salt and sugar involves a lot of label reading and Google searches.

Although the "Nutrition Facts" label on jars of marinara and other sauces gives you the percentage of the maximum daily recommended sodium in a half-cup, the amount of "sugars" is given only in grams.

A Google search reveals 4 grams is equal to one teaspoon of sugar.

So, the Frescorti-brand Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce I saw in the Paramus ShopRite has 2 teaspoons of sugar in a half-cup.

The Rienzi Marinara nearby had a little over 2 teaspoons of natural and added sugar in a half-cup.

To reduce the salt and sugar in the pasta sauce you prepare at home, blend half a jar with a low-sodium alternative, such as ShopRite's Wholesome Pantry Organic (8% sodium in a half-cup), or with a can of no salt added or low-sodium crushed tomatoes.

For example, Tuttorosso Crushed Tomatoes (no salt added) lists 1% sodium and 3 grams of "sugars" in a half-cup.

Another way is never to salt the water you use to boil your pasta, and if you use anchovies, to drain the can of oil and rinse the tiny fish before adding them to your sauce.

I also usually add red wine, extra-virgin olive oil, dried herbs and red-pepper flakes.

BETTER: Of the three bottled pasta sauces I saw at the Paramus ShopRite last week, Botticelli-brand Tomato & Basil had the lowest amount of salt and sugar. Still, with 20% sodium and 1 teaspoon of sugar in a half-cup, Botticelli had more salt than Victoria-brand sauces.

TWO SIDES OF GAROFALO: A 16-ounce package of non-organic Garofalo Linguine from Italy, above, was a pricy $2.89 at the Paramus ShopRite, Forest Avenue and Route 4 east. For Garofalo Organic pasta, you have to go to the Costco Business Center on South River Street in Hackensack.

ORGANIC SPAGHETTI: I bought eight 1.1-pound packages of Garofalo Organic Spaghetti for about $1.49 each at the Costco Wholesale Business Center. The best-if-used-by date is September 2020.

ORGANIC PASTA AND ANTIBIOTIC-FREE SHRIMP: For dinner one night, plus plenty of leftovers, above and below, I used a package of Garofalo Organic Spaghetti and 2 pounds of Responsibly Farmed Shrimp from Whole Foods Market in Paramus ($9.99 a pound); extra-virgin olive oil, fresh garlic, a can of organic diced tomatoes, some organic pasta sauce, red wine, anchovies, dried herbs and other seasonings.

Organic pasta

In the last few years, I've become a big fan of organic whole wheat spaghetti and other shapes from Italy, including the brands sold at ShopRite, Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's.

In fact until recently, whole wheat was the only organic, non-GMO pasta available for a reasonable price at the North Jersey stores where I shop (currently about $1.50 for a full 1-pound package).

Now, the Costco Business Center at 80 S. River St. in Hackensack is selling packages of Garofalo Organic Spaghetti and other shapes, including Gemelli (twins) and Penne Rigate.

Pasta Garofalo was first produced in 1789, according to the Italian company's website.

But the site seems somewhat dated, as in this entry:

"We could boast about the fact that Pasta Garofalo has been considered the quality pasta par excellence since the twenty year Fascist period" -- a reference to former Prime Minister Benito Mussolini, who was strung up in April 1945.

If some Italians are taking this long to get over Mussolini, imagine how long some Americans will take to get over President Trump.

OTHER SHAPES: The Costco Business Center also bundles six 17.6-ounce packages of Garofalo Organic Gemelli, Penne Rigate and a third shape for $9.49 or about $1.58 each.

Food matters: Hits and misses at Costco, Trader Joe's, ShopRite, Jerry's and more

HITS FROM ICELAND: The Costco Wholesale warehouse in the Teterboro Landing shopping center off Route 46 is a reliable source for fresh, wild-caught fillets of cod, haddock and flounder from Iceland for $7.99 and $8.99 a pound. The Cod & Vegetable Medley, above, also includes pesto, Greek yogurt and plum tomatoes from Costco.

UGLY FISH WITH TEXTURE OF LOBSTER: This week, Costco surprised members with trays of fresh, wild Monkfish fillets caught in the United States ($9.99 a pound). When cooked, monkfish's meaty white flesh has the texture of lobster. 

-- HACKENSACK, N.J.

Editor's note: A 12-ounce box of Ronzoni's Super Greens -- a thin spaghetti made with five greens -- was reduced to $1.99 from the normal price of $2.49 at ShopRite, not $1.59, as I reported earlier. I've also added a link on how to find clearance items at Costco.

By VICTOR E. SASSON

EDITOR

A Top 10 or even a Top 20 list wouldn't begin to describe all the great food and non-food items Costco Wholesale members find in those enormous warehouses.

So, I think of shopping at Costco, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods Market and other food stores in terms of hits and misses.

Most -- but not all -- of the hits at Costco are sold under the house label, Kirkland Signature, which usually stands for added value.

For example, Kirkland Signature Basil Pesto, Organic Quinoa, Organic Salsa and Organic Chicken Drumsticks all equaled or exceeded the quality of the national brands that preceded them, and were initially offered at a lower price.

30-MINUTE MONKFISH: A pan of Costco's Monkfish is ready in 20 minutes to 25 minutes after you assemble all the ingredients and place the pan in a pre-heated, 400-degree oven: Fresh organic spinach, serving portions of skinless-and-boneless fillet, Campari tomato, pitted black olives, capers, grated cheese, fresh lemon juice, red pepper, and fresh mint and oregano, below.

Private-label wine

In northern New Jersey, only the Wayne warehouse carries Kirkland Signature wines -- including French Champagne, California Cabernet Sauvignon, Rioja Reserva and Malbec -- and they are a bargain compared to other brands.

In fact, you have to toast Costco for providing high-quality organic and conventional ingredients for families who prepare most of their meals at home.

Other Costco products that could make the list of hits are available in packages that are too large for singles and couples, and that even small families struggle to use before they spoil.

They include 10-pound bags of organic carrots or conventional sweet potates, 5.5- to 6-pound trays of apples and pears, 4-pound containers of grapes and 3-pound bags of peeled California garlic.

Costco's prices fluctuate, but members receive instant coupons in the mail that lower already low prices for many items.

And the no-fee Costco Anywhere Visa Card from Citi offers cash rebates on purchases in the warehouse,
and at gas stations, restaurants and other stores so you get your yearly membership fee back two or three times over.

Who has the besto pesto?

How to find Costco clearance items

A BIG MISS AT COSTCO: The wildly popular Kirkland Signature Seasoned  Rotisserie Chicken for $4.99 flies off the shelves, but the 3-pound birds are raised on harmful human antibiotics and contain added salt and sugar. See: Better for your dog then you

LOWER PRICE THAN IN 2005: A 1-pound package of pre-washed Earthbound Farm Organic Spring Mix -- one of the best salads in the world -- was only $3.69 on Tuesday, compared to $3.99 in 2005. Wholesome Gardens is sold alongside or instead of Earthbound Farm for the same price, but it is only recently that radicchio appeared in that organic spring mix, below.

INCOMPARABLE: A 2-pound package of greenhouse-grown Campari Tomatoes was $3.99 on Tuesday.

SAY CHEESE: Jarlsberg Lite Swiss Cheese is one of the few reduced-fat cheeses available at Costco Wholesale in Teterboro. I add this cheese to omelets or roll it up with wild smoked salmon and spring mix, dipped in Dijon mustard, for a bread-less snack (2 pounds for $7.99).

FROM ALASKA: The taste and color of Kirkland Signature Wild Alaskan Smoke Sockeye Salmon puts smoked farmed salmons to shame, and at $16.99 for two half-pound pouches of sliced sockeye, you won't find a lower price at any other store.

GREEK TO ME: Kirkland Signature non-fat Greek Yogurt adds creaminess without the cholesterol to cooked fish or omelets, and the thick yogurt makes a great snack spread on a plate with dried and fresh herbs, and extra-virgin olive oil, below. Two 32-ounce containers were $5.99.

NOW CAGE FREE: Cartons of Kirkland Signature Cage-Free Egg Whites freeze beautifully (six 16-ounce cartons were $8.99 or about $1.50 each).

WITH FRESH GARDEN HERBS: My omelet on Wednesday morning included a slice of Jarlsberg Lite Swiss Cheese, smoked wild salmon and organic salsa, all from Costco. Another big hit for egg fans are Kirkland Signature Organic Eggs (2 dozen for $5.99), below.

TURKISH GROUND: Colombian Supremo Beans can be turned into a fine Turkish grind in the Teterboro warehouse and at the Costco Wholesale Business Center, 80 S. River St. in Hackensack, at do-it-yourself coffee mills. You can borrow a scissor to open the bag, and all 3 pounds will just fit into the single grinder in Hackensack (about $5.20 a pound).

SODIUM FREE: A 3-pound bag of raw, sodium-free U.S. almonds was $12.49. I roast all 3 pounds at home in a 275-degree oven for 1 hour and 20 minutes, then dust them with Kirkland Signature Ground Saigon Cinnamon, below. They're a great after-dinner snack.

FROM VIETNAM: A 10.7-ounce container of Ground Saigon Cinnamon was $2.59 this week.

21 SEASONINGS: We'd have a hard time preparing meals at home, if we didn't have Kirkland Signature Organic No-Salt Seasoning -- 21 spices or other ingredients from around the world.

ORANGE PEEL, CUMIN AND MORE: A 14.5-ounce container of Organic No-Salt Seasoning was $7.99 last week.

NO ADDED SUGAR: Classico Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce is one of the few Classico sauces without added sugar. Three 32-ounce jars were $7.99 at Costco or about $2.50 a jar. Costco also carries Victoria Marinara, another sauce without added sugar.

DRESS FOR LESS: Kirkland Signature spread-collar and button-down shirts are 100% cotton for only $17.99 each, above and below.

WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD: Another great non-food item are the Michelin tires available at Costco's Tire Center, including the Michelin Defenders we bought for our 2010 Toyota Prius (90,000 mile tread-life warranty). Coupons for $70 off four tires and $60 off installation are common, and periodic tire rotations are included.

DETAILS: Costco Wholesale, 2 Teterboro Landing Drive, Teterboro; 201-596-7001. Open 7 days, call for hours. Closed Memorial Day. Costco gas station is open to non-members. 

SWEET ON TRADER JOE'S? Both 28-ounce cans of Trader Joe's Marinara Sauce and Tuscano Marinara Sauce are marked low fat, but the can on the right contains added sugar ($1.99 each).  

NEW HOT DOG: Trader Joe's has added a new uncured beef hot dog, this one made with organic, grass-fed beef. Both are antibiotic and hormone free. For $5.99, you get 12 ounces of organic hot dogs or 16 ounces of the regular hot dogs.

SMALLER THAN PARAMUS: The older Trader Joe's in Westwood  (20 Irvington St.)  is even smaller than the cramped Paramus store (404 Route 17 north).

GREEN PASTA: Ronzoni is calling thin spaghetti enriched with spinach, zucchini, broccoli, parsley and kale "Super Greens." A 12-ounce box was on sale for $1.99 on May 5 at the ShopRite in Englewood. I dressed the tasty pasta with Trader Joe's Marinara, sardines, anchovies, red wine and dried Italian herbs. The green spaghetti has about the same calories and carbs as the organic whole wheat pasta I've been eating for several years, including the Luigi Vitelli-brand that was on sale for 99 cents a pound at the Paramus ShopRite, below.

MISPLACED STRAWBERRIES: The ShopRite at Forest Avenue and Route 4 east in Paramus is the most disorganized supermarket I've shopped in. On May 9, the store mixed packages of organic strawberries (on sale for $4.49 a pound) with conventional strawberries (on sale for $1.99). Only the blue label was the tip-off. The store gave me $2 off the package of organic strawberries I inadvertently brought to the register.

JERRY'S LEFTOVERS: Spicy chicken wings, pasta with seafood and vegetables from one of the Meals To Go available at Jerry's Gourmet & More, 410 S. Dean St. in Englewood, below. I've often praised the restaurant-quality takeout for $7.99, reduced to $5.99 after 4 p.m. But Jerry's recently told a local food editor the Meals To Go are actually made up of leftovers.

FROM REFRIGERATED CASE TO TAKE-OUT CONTAINER: Jerry's staff makes up the Meals To Go from whatever prepared food sold by the pound is left over at night, above and below. How many days the food is kept in the refrigerated case before it becomes a Meal To Go is anyone's guess.

MODEST BUT FILLING DINNERS: Meals To Go are complete dinners with fish, beef, pork or chicken, plus pasta and vegetables or salad.

POACHED COD: In a covered pot, I poached skinless fillets of Icelandic cod from Costco Wholesale for about 10 minutes in a 16-ounce jar of 365 Everyday Value Peach & Mango Salsa from Whole Foods Market in Paramus ($2.99), with added sliced onions, garlic, pitted black olives and fresh lemon juice.

SWEET SURPRISE: This salsa may be the only one from Whole Foods with added sugar, and I found it a little too sweet.

BOTTLES OF RED: Whole Foods Market at the Bergen Town Center on Forest Avenue in Paramus offers a small selection of red wine for $3.99 to $6.99 a bottle, including Carmenere from Chile, above, described as "slightly sweet with notes of chocolate, toffee and creamy mint." 

ORGANIC WINE: A Rossello from Italy was $7.99. Whole Foods gives you a 10% discount on every 6 bottles of wine you purchase.