> Where I live, buying fresh is cheaper than packaged. What’s missing are basic cooking skills I'm not sure this argument holds. I cook most of my meals but ev

> Where I live, buying fresh is cheaper than packaged. What’s missing are basic cooking skills I'm not sure this argument holds. I cook most of my meals but even at the grocery store, things from the large farms are much cheaper than the smaller, local ones. On the rare occasion I go to the butcher, it's significantly more expensive than going to a regular market, nearing the price of a meal at a restaurant. Obviously the quality is way better but they don't really sell similar quality things, probably because they can't compete in that market.