Grocery shopping in the virus era

by Cami Villanueva, CMN intern, and Anne Lawrence.
Updated 4/14/20 with information from Andrew Bitans.

COVID-19 has pushed us to find our new normal. Unfortunately, that means our local grocery stores must accommodate our dramatically changing circumstances as well. Health and safety of shoppers is most important to our grocery stores. Employees have been trained to sanitize surfaces and no longer charge for bags at their stores to avoid spread through reusable bags. Self-serve and seating areas have closed. All the grocery stores have been promoting social distancing by asking customers to stay six feet apart, some even going as far as to put stickers onto the floor to guide shoppers and putting Plexiglas between shoppers and the check-out clerks. To protect the especially vulnerable shoppers, such as those older than 60 or who have pre-existing conditions, there are special hours in the morning for them to shop with less crowding.

In addition to all these precautions grocery stores are making, it is up to the shoppers to help out as well. Grocery stores cannot check each individual person. There are certain steps you can take, such as not shopping during the special “at-risk” hours if you do not fit the criteria, not buying more supplies than needed, and by complying with the social distancing guidelines. We are all facing COVID-19 together and it is vital that we work together to minimize the spread of the virus as much as possible.

Here’s information about specific grocery stores. Conditions are changing daily so phone or check the website before you go out!

Market of Choice
250 NW Lost Springs Terrace
Vulnerable Shoppers Hour: Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, 7-8 am; regular hours: daily, 8 am-9 pm
For more information call 503-596-3592 or visit the Market of Choice website.

Winco
3025 SW Cedar Hills Blvd
Early Access Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-7:30 am;
Regular hours: Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 7 am-10 pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7:30 am-10 pm Winco is limiting access to only 200 shoppers in their stores at a time. Some will have to wait in line, at least six feet apart.
For more information call 503-644-4940 or visit the Winco website.

Costco
15901 SW Jenkins Rd.
Special Operating hours (ages 60+ and people with disabilities: Tuesdays-Thursdays, 8-9 am;
regular hours: Mondays-Fridays, 9:30 am-6:30 pm; Saturdays, 9:30 am-6 pm; Sundays, 10 am- 6 pm
Priority access available for healthcare workers and first responders.Delivery available.
For more information call 503-644-7615 or visit the Costco website.

Bethany QFC
4756 NW Bethany Blvd
Exclusive Shopping: Monday-Thursday, 7-8 am; regular hours: daily, 8 am-8 pm
Curbside pickup and delivery available.
For more information call 503-533-0552 or visit the QFC website.

West Hills QFC:
7525 SW Barnes Rd
Exclusive Shopping: Monday-Thursday, 7-8 am; regular hours: daily, 8 am- 8 pm.
Curbside pickup and delivery available.
For more information call 503-203-0027 or visit the QFC website.

Albertsons
18425 NW West Union Rd
Golden hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 7-9 am; regular hours: daily, 7 am-10 pm
Curbside pickup and delivery available.
For more information call 503-533-5998 or visit the Albertsons website.

New Seasons
3495 Southwest Cedar Hills Blvd
Community Care Hour: 8-9 am; regular hours: daily, 9 am-8 pm
Curbside pickup and delivery available.
For more information call 503-641-4181 or visit the New Seasons website.

Safeway
13485 NW Cornell Rd
Golden Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 7-9 am; regular hours: daily, 7 am-10 pm
Curbside pickup and delivery available
For more information call 503-350-2080 or visit the Safeway website.

Helvetia Farm Market
23137 NW West Union Rd., Hillsboro
Regular hours: Monday-Saturday 8 am-7 pm, Sunday 10-6
If you are not comfortable shopping inside, orders can be placed by text and we will load your car with your order. Text us at 503-928-4428 to place your order between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm daily. Be sure to pick up your order before 6 pm (we can’t hold orders for more than one hour, so kindly order just prior to heading out).
At-risk folks can text us at 503-928-4428 and request a current photo of the produce or meat cases, even the grocery shelves, and we will send those over. Then they can text us what they want before they head out. We take over-the-phone payments and deliver to the car.

Target
11095 NE Evergreen Pkwy
Vulnerable guests: Tuesday and Wednesday, 7-8 am; regular hours: daily, 8 am – 9 pm
Curbside pickup and delivery available.
For more information call 503-531-3656 or visit Target website.

Target
10775 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy
Vulnerable guests: Tuesday and Wednesday, 7-8 am; regular hours: daily, 8 am – 9 pm
Curbside pickup and delivery available.
For more information call 503-626-8345 or visit Target website.

Target
9009 SW Hall Blvd
Vulnerable guests: Tuesday and Wednesday, 7-8 am; regular hours: daily, 8 am – 9 pm
Curbside pickup and delivery available.
For more information call 503-624-0273 or visit Target website.

Target
2295 SE Tualatin Valley Hwy
Vulnerable guests: Tuesday and Wednesday, 8-9 am; regular hours: daily, 9 am – 9 pm
Curbside pickup and delivery available.
For more information call 503-693-1016 or visit Target website.

Walmart Neighborhood Market
17275 Nw Cornell Rd
Senior Shopping Hour: Tuesday, 6-7 am; regular hours: daily, 7 am – 8:30 pm
Curbside pickup and delivery available.
For more information call 503-207-7627 or visit Walmart website.

Walmart Neighborhood Market
7650 Ne Shaleen Street
Senior Shopping Hour: Tuesday, 6-7 am; regular hours: daily, 7 am – 8:30 pm
Curbside pickup and delivery available.
For more information call 503-268-6919 or visit Walmart website.

Walmart Neighborhood Market
9055 Sw Murray Blvd
Senior Shopping Hour: Tuesday, 6-7 am; regular hours: daily, 7 am – 8:30 pm
Curbside pickup and delivery available.
For more information call 503-207-9915 or visit Walmart website.

Trader Joe’s
2285 NW 185th Ave
Senior and those with disabilities: Daily, 8-9 am; regular hours: daily, 9 am – 7 pm
For more information call 503-645-8321 or visit Trader Joe’s website.

Trader Joe’s
11753 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy
Senior and those with disabilities: Daily, 8-9 am; regular hours: daily, 9 am – 7 pm
For more information call 503-626-3794 or visit Trader Joe’s website.

Whole Foods
9940 NE Cornell Rd
Guests 60+: Daily, 8-9 am; regular hours: daily, 9 am – 8 pm
Curbside pickup and delivery available.
For more information call 503-645-9200 or visit Whole Foods website.

Whole Foods
12220 SW Scholls Ferry Rd
Guests 60+: Daily, 8-9 am; regular hours: daily, 9 am – 8 pm
Curbside pickup and delivery available.
For more information call 971-371-7000 or visit Whole Foods website.

Fred Meyer
15995 SW Walker Rd
Guests 60+: Monday – Thursday, 7-8 am; regular hours: daily, 8 am – 10 pm
Curbside pickup and delivery available.
For more information call 503-690-5800 or visit Fred Meyer website.

Fred Meyer
11425 Sw Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy
Guests 60+: Monday – Thursday, 7-8 am; regular hours: daily, 8 am – 10 pm
Curbside pickup and delivery available.
For more information call 503-526-1800 or visit Fred Meyer website.

Uwajimaya
10500 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale HWY
At-Risk Hours: Tuesday, 8-9 am; Regular hours: Daily, 9 am-8 pm
For more information call 503-643-4512 or visit Uwajimaya website.

Natural Grocers
12155 SW Broadway St
At-Risk Hours: Tuesday, 8-9 am; Regular hours: Daily, 9 am-8 pm
For more information call 503-643-4512 or visit Uwajimaya website.

Grocery shopping online

You can order groceries online at some store websites, such as Safeway and Walmart. You can also go through another delivery service, such as Instacart.

If you order through your smart phone or tablet, you can walk around your kitchen and check what you need as you are ordering. Like shopping in person, you will find that some items are out of stock. You can authorize the store to allow substitutions, which are very similar items, which you can decline to pay for if they are not satisfactory. When you order, check for a coupon for free delivery.

You will need to request an available delivery window, which might be one or two days out. Sometimes, no delivery window is available. In this case, try the application again later, during off hours, and you may have more luck finding a delivery window that suits you.

If you request contactless delivery the delivery person will leave the bags at your door. After the delivery you should receive an email stating what your final charges are (which will vary slightly if you have ordered produce that needs to be weighed). At that time you have a chance to tip your delivery person.

Be sure to check with the individual stores before you go out, as the situation is changing daily!