Guest Blog: Interview With My Mom
In response to today’s Question of the Day, quite a few of you said that the person you are most grateful for is your mom… and I have to agree with you on this one! (Mal and my sister are pretty awesome too!)
My mom is one cool lady. She works very, very hard. She raised my sister and me all by herself and worked endless hours to provide for us. I still have no idea how she managed to pay for two college educations!
My mom works at a retail farm stand/gourmet grocery store called Idylwilde Farms. She has worked there for just over 8 years now, and I thought you guys would enjoy reading about her job and the place where she is employed. Plus, Idylwilde is pure heaven for a foodie!!!!! 
I was planning to review Idylwilde on the blog, but the reviewers on Yelp pretty much sum up why the place is so amazing (quality, appearance, and selection), but they also point out its “flaws” (expensive, crowded, and expensive). (Yep, ‘expensive’ was supposed to be there twice!) I LOVE shopping at Idywilde, and I always make it a point to stop in when I am home visiting my family. I do, however, manage to spend way too much money there! There’s just so much great stuff! FYI: Idylwilde’s homemade peanut butter is amazing and affordable!
Interview With My Mom
1. What is your role at Idylwilde? How long have you been working there?
My role at Idylwilde Farms is Front End Manager. I have had this position since February 2008, though I have worked there for about 8 years. My responsibilities are varied. Mainly, I do the scheduling for the cashiers, I am responsible for the $, register problems, customer service, price changes, pricing, and restocking to name a few.
2. What do you like best about your job? What is sometimes a challenge?
What I like best about the job is the fast pace and the changing of the seasons. I also like the feeling of a job well done at the end of the day and knowing that I can keep up (even at my age! ha ha). What I don’t like is trying to deal with difficult and unreasonable, and sometimes rude customers.
3. With the recent economy recession, what buying trends have you seen recently at Idylwilde?
The recent economic recession has not really hit Idylwilde Farms yet. We are more of an upscale gourmet market than just a farm stand or a grocery store. Our regular clientele doesn’t seem affected.
4. How often do customers complain about the prices? What are some of their common complaints?
The few customers that are really watching their wallets will complain when they notice a sudden price increase on things they buy regularly. This, of course, is basic economics. With the rise in the price of fuel, the transportation costs have also gone up, and unfortunately, the price is passed onto the consumer. Another complaint we get is from the people that are buying drastically out of season produce. Blueberries are cheaper in August (when they are local and available) than they are in February when they are shipped from Chile.
5. What “luxury” items have customers begun to cut back on/stop buying?
Like I mentioned before, our regulars aren’t giving up much! If anything it may be the more grocery-type items like pastas and cereals that they can get cheaper at the supermarket if they are going there anyway. We carry a wide variety of items as a convenience to the customers, but they know they will pay premium price for them.
6. What items do customers continue to buy, no matter the price?
One thing people buy no matter what the price is the in-season produce or actually any fresh produce — even blueberries in February. Another thing are the organics, which tend to be more expensive unless there is a deal at the produce market. We also carry a lot of nut-free and gluten-free items that people with allergies will buy.
7. In your opinion, what “expensive” Idywilde products are worth the money?
In my opinion, the cheeses are worth the money. I love good cheese and I always like to try something new.
8. What tips/advice do you have for saving money at the grocery store?
A few tips I can give for saving money at the grocery store would be to shop the sales, use coupons whenever possible, and, of course, never shop hungry. Also check out the reduced items rack once in awhile, you never know what you might find. And when buying fresh produce at a farmer’s market or a farm stand, try freezing or canning.
9. What cheap, healthy items do you think people should buy, but they don’t?
A few cheap healthy items people should buy but don’t are things like peanuts in the shell, banana chips, and right now any of the winter squashes, spinach or kale.
10. What are your favorite products at Idylwilde?
Some of my favorite items at Idylwilde, besides cheese, are the mixed salad greens for the convenience, a lot of the fresh baked breads, and the ever-popular caramel apples.
Posted by: Tina 28 comments
Posted in: Uncategorized, guest blogger
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Tina! This is one of my favorite posts you’ve ever put up! How great! Your mom sounds incredible and inspiring! I love her tips! And I think its great that you two have such an amazing relationship!
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Hooray for your mom! What a cute post. My mom is also wonderful, and I’m going to call her now to tell her that.
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I am really close with my mom too, its great! I LOVE Idylwilde!! I need to make a trip there soon.
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Hi Tina! I’m in college and I was just wondering did you work while you were in school?How did you manage your money back then?How were your study habits?Hopefully you will answer my questions.Your blog is AMAZING!
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Hi Vivian!
Yep, I did! I had 2 jobs actually– I had a work study job (that was part of my financial aid package) and I waitressed a few nights a week… and, of course, I worked full-time all summer long.
As far as managing money, I tried to spend as little as possible! I rarely spent money on anything except the true necessities and I bargain-hunted like it was my job! My mom helped me out when she could, but for the most part, I didn’t ask her for money… unless I really, really needed it, like to help pay my rent during my senior year.
My study habits were really good. I maximized my time in college, fitting in homework, reading, and studying whenever I could. I spent all day on Sunday in the library, catching up on work and getting ahead for the next week.
Hope this helps!!!
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Aww … yay for MOMS!!! Yours sounds like a truly, amazing person! It always humbles me to read how much a mother will do for her children. What a fantastic post for this week of thanks!!
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
What a cute guest post! Your mom seems like an amazing woman!
Thank you Tina’s mom for the interview!!
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Thought you might like this!
http://health.msn.com/fitness/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100226446>1=31036
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Royal,
THANK YOU! This looks like a great article! I love the exercise ideas!
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
What a cute interview!
Sounds like an awesome place!
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
This was really fun and interesting to read!
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Precious interview!!
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Great interview! I wish we had that store it sounds fun!…Moms are so awesome..
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Great interview! Love it!
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
That’s so cute you interviewed your mom! I bet she was thrilled!
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
CUTE CUTE CUTE!
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Hi Tina’s Mom
Great interview Tina, thanks 
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I loved this post! Thanks for the reminder to step back and reflect on the most important things in our lives.
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
this is the best post ever!!!!!! i love that you interviewed your mom – it is so clear that you are grateful for her – what a sweet post. really puts things into perspective for me
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
It’s so wonderful how close you are to your mom. That’s extremely sweet and I love the post idea. Very cool
on Nov 25th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Thanks for the interview! That was the highlight of my day. Enjoy a lovely Thanksgiving together.
on Nov 26th, 2008 at 9:20 am
I love idylwilde farm! I go there all the time, especially for their cheese and bread and veggies.
on Mar 23rd, 2009 at 4:11 pm
[...] Fruit Center Marketplace in Milton. The Fruit Center Marketplace is a cross between Whole Foods and Idylwilde Farms (where my mom works). Its product offerings include: gourmet and specialty items, imported goods, [...]
on May 11th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
[...] a very special Happy Mother’s Day to my mom, Dona, who is a Super Mom to me! She is such a hard worker and raised my sister and me all by herself without missing a single soccer game, band concert, or [...]
on May 11th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
i just went to not your average joes on saturday with my mom (in acton, ma). love that place!! your wedding pics are absolutely stunning -i’ve seen them before but they’re still beautiful nevertheless.
on Jun 29th, 2009 at 6:49 am
[...] mom works at Idylwilde Farms, which sells an impressive selection of whole foods and fresh produce. I’m sort of jealous of [...]
on Jul 19th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
[...] Corn from my mom’s store [...]
on Sep 29th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
[...] also included a KIND bar and a Honeycrisp apple from my mom. Honeycrisp are my favorite type of [...]