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Portland Grocery Deals (June 11-17): Father's Day Grilling + Pulled Pork Feast

Score local cherries for $2.49/lb., pork shoulder for $1.99/lb., and watermelon deals. Plus make pulled pork two ways for Father's Day weekend!

Author

Bryan M. Vance
June 12, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes

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Hi, reader,

Thank you for making Stumptown Savings something special. This hyper-local outlet has already helped Portlanders save hundreds on groceries.

I'm building this as a one-person operation after being laid off and now I need your help to grow. I'm raising $15,000 to help me continue to do this work and expand. I’m at 18% of my goal with just a week left.

Here's the deal: if every subscriber contributed just $10 (less than a dozen heirloom eggs), I'd hit my goal tomorrow. I guarantee you'll save far more than that through the deals I curate. Stumptown Savings might be the best investment in Portland right now!

Every dollar helps me reach more Portlanders and build this community. Let's build this together!

Now, onto this week’s deals.

Produce Steals

Albertsons/Safeway through June 17 (deals with U Rewards)

  • 🍉 Whole red seedless watermelon — $0.39/lb.

  • 🍒 Local red sweet cherries — $2.49/lb. On first 3 lbs. (with digital coupon, earn 2x points)

  • 🍄 O Organics mushrooms, select varieties, 8 oz. — $3.49 each

  • 🍈 Cantaloupe — $3.29 each

  • 🫛 C&W frozen veggies, 16 oz. bags — $2.99 each (with digital coupon)

  • 🍉 Whole seedless watermelon — $3.99 each

  • 🌱 Asparagus — $1.79/lb.

  • 🥔 Kroger russet potatoes, 5-lb. bags — $1.88 each

  • 🍒 Local red cherries — $2.99/lb. (with digital coupon)

  • 🍑 California yellow or white peaches or nectarines — $1.49/lb. (with digital coupon)

  • 🍈 Organic cantaloupe — $0.99/lb.

  • 🍒 Local cherries — $6.49/lb.

  • 🍓 Local strawberry pints, 4-packs — $19.99 each

  • 🍅 Organic tomatoes on the vine — $2.99/lb.

  • 🍈 Orange flesh honeydew — $1.79/lb.

  • 🍉 Whole seedless watermelons — $7.99 each

  • 🧅 Red onions — $0.79/lb.

  • 🍎 Ambrosia apples — $0.99/lb.

Protein Picks

Albertsons/Safeway through June 17 (deals with U Rewards)

  • 🐖 Fresh bone-in pork shoulder roasts, whole in bag — $1.99/lb. (limit 2 roasts)

  • 🐔 Fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs — $2.99/lb. (on first 5 lbs.)

  • 🧀 Local Tillamook cheese, 6-8 oz. packages, select varieties — $2.49 each (with digital coupon, earn 2x points)

  • 🦀 Cooked snow crab clusters, previously frozen — $10.99/lb.

  • 🥩 Private Selection Angus steaks and bone-in ribeye value packs — 40% off

  • 🦞 Wild-caught lobster tails, previously frozen — 40% off

  • 🐖 Bone-in pork shoulder roasts or boneless pork half loins — $1.99/lb.

  • 🧀 Kroger cheese, 32 oz packages, select varieties — $5.99 each (with digital coupon)

  • 🐔 Fresh Foster Farms bone-in chicken split breasts value packs — $1.29/lb.

  • 🥚 Local New Seasons cage-free white eggs, 1 dozen — $3.99 each (that’s a good deal)

  • 🐖 Beeler’s Pure Pork boneless center-cut pork chops — $5.99/lb.

  • 🥩 New York steaks — $19.99/lb.

  • 🐟 Atlantic salmon fillets — $15.99/lb.

  • 🐄 Straus Family Creamery organic yogurt, select varieties — 20% off

  • 💪 Lightlife plant-based proteins, select varieties — 25% off

  • 🐄 Italian beef skewers — $12.99/lb.

  • 🌭 Philly cheesesteak sausage — $8.99/lb.

  • 🍖 Bone-in shortribs — $12.99/lb.

  • 🥓 Thick cut bacon — $5.99/lb.

Pantry Stock-Ups

Albertsons/Safeway through June 17 (deals with U Rewards)

  • 🥣 Select varieties of General Mills cereals, Betty Crocker fruit snacks, or Nature Valley granola bars — $1.79 each on the first 8 (with digital coupon, earn 4x points)

  • 🥔 Lay’s or Kettle Cooked potato chips, select varieties — Buy 1, get 1 free (earn 4x points)

  • 🌽 Frito-Lay party size Doritos or Ruffles, select varieties — $3.49 each (with digital coupon, earn 4x points)

  • 🍚 Rice-a-Roni, Pasta-a-Roni, or Mac-a-Roni, select varieties — $0.99 each (with digital coupon)

  • 🥣 Kroger giant size cereals, select varieties — $3.49 each

  • 🫘 Bush’s Best baked beans, 15.8-16 oz cans, select varieties — $0.99 each (with digital coupon)

  • 🥣 General Mills cereals, select varieties — $1.79 each (with digital coupon)

  • 🥔 Local Kettle Brand potato chips, select varieties — 2 for $6

  • 🍅 Prego pasta sauces, select varieties — 2 for $4 (with digital coupon)

  • 🥣 Mom’s best cereal, select varieties — Buy 1, get 1 free

  • ☕ Peet’s Coffee, select varieties — $9.99 each

  • ☕ Bulk Stumptown Coffee Roasters coffee — $15.99/lb.

  • 🫒 Divina Mediterranean foods, select varieties — 20% off

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Meal Deal

Last week’s meal deal was a Persian feast like you’d find at a restaurant. I made it to rave reviews from my Persian wife, opting to make tahdig with help from my Persian rice cooker. 

This week's meal deal takes advantage of our excellent grilling weather with pulled pork (with an indoor option too).

Pulled Pork, 2 Ways: Slow Cooker & Low and Slow Grilled

Yields: 4 servings | Cost: About $18.50 total (About $4.63 per serving) | Time: 8 hours slow cooker OR 10-12 hours grilled

Featuring deals from Albertsons/Safeway through June 17

This recipe gives you two paths to BBQ greatness: a hands-off slow cooker method perfect for busy days, and a traditional low-and-slow grilled (or smoked) version that'll have your neighbors asking what smells so incredible.

Ingredients

For the pork (both methods):

  • 3 lb. fresh bone-in pork shoulder roast

  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar

  • 1 tablespoon paprika

  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder

  • 1 tablespoon onion powder

  • 2 teaspoons chili powder

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard (for binding)

  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar

  • ¼ cup water

For the side:

  • 1 bag (16 oz) C&W frozen vegetables

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

  • Salt and pepper to taste

For serving:

  • Hamburger buns

  • Your favorite BBQ sauce

Instructions

Prepare the Rub:

  1. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper, and cayenne.

  2. Pat the pork shoulder dry and coat lightly with yellow mustard (this helps the rub bind to the meat).

  3. Rub the spice mixture all over the meat, coating thoroughly. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Method 1: Slow Cooker (8 hours)

Cook the Pork:

  1. Place seasoned pork in slow cooker and add apple cider vinegar and water around (not over) the meat.

  2. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours, until meat easily shreds with a fork.

  3. Remove pork and let cool slightly. Remove bone and shred with two forks.

  4. Return shredded pork to slow cooker and mix with cooking juices.

Method 2: Low and Slow Grilled (10-12 hours)

Set Up for Indirect Cooking:

  1. If using a gas grill: Set up for two-zone cooking with one side on low (225°F) and one side off. Place a water pan on the cool side.

  2. If using charcoal: Bank coals to one side, maintaining 225°F on the cool side.

  3. For wood flavor, soak hickory or apple wood chips for 30 minutes, then add to a foil packet with holes poked in it.

  4. I like to fill a pan or aluminum tray with some water and place under the grates or next to the pork, for added moisture .

Smoke the Pork:

  1. Place pork on the cool side of grill, fat side up.

  2. Maintain 225°F and add wood chips every hour for the first 4 hours.

  3. Spritz with apple cider vinegar every 2 hours after the first 2 hours.

  4. After 6-8 hours, when internal temp reaches 180°F, wrap tightly in foil to trap remaining juices.

  5. Continue cooking until internal temperature reaches 195-200°F (total time 10-12 hours).

  6. Remove from grill, keep wrapped, and rest for 1 hour.

  7. Shred and mix with any accumulated juices.

Prepare the Vegetables (both methods):

  1. About 30 minutes before pork is done, preheat oven to 425°F.

  2. Spread frozen vegetables on a baking sheet.

  3. Drizzle with olive oil and season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

  4. Roast for 20-25 minutes, stirring once, until heated through and lightly browned.

To Serve: Pile pulled pork on hamburger buns, and top with your favorite BBQ sauce. Serve with roasted vegetables on the side.

Tips

Slow Cooker Method:

  • Time saver: Perfect for busy weekends when you want great food without the work

  • Consistent results: Nearly impossible to overcook in a slow cooker

  • Flavor boost: Save and use the cooking liquid as a base for a sauce

Grilled Method:

  • Smoke flavor: Use a 50/50 mix of hickory and apple wood for best flavor

  • Temperature control: Invest in a good probe thermometer for consistent results

  • The stall: Don't panic when the pork’s temperature plateaus around 160°F for several hours

  • Bark development: For better crust, skip wrapping until internal temp hits 170°F

  • Plan ahead: Start early morning for evening dinner, or start the night before

Both Methods:

  • Make ahead: Pulled pork improves in flavor after a day in the fridge

  • Leftovers: Freeze portions in freezer bags for quick weeknight meals

  • Sauce timing: Always add sauce after shredding, not during cooking

  • Premade Rub: For easier prep, use your favorite premade rub

Cost Breakdown

  • 3 lb. pork shoulder roast (Albertsons/Safeway deal at $1.99/lb.): $5.97

  • 1 bag C&W frozen vegetables: $2.99

  • Hamburger buns: $3.50

  • Spices and pantry items (brown sugar, vinegar, oil, etc.): $6.04

  • Total: $18.50

  • Per serving (for 4): $4.63

The beauty of this recipe is flexibility — use whichever method fits your schedule, equipment, and comfort level. Either way, you're creating memories and feeding people well without breaking the bank!

If you try this recipe, show it off! Your fellow Stumptown Savers want to see how it turned out!

  1. Take a picture of your finished pulled pork

  2. Share it on Instagram and tag @StumptownSavings!

Reader Corner

Your Votes Are In! Despite "nothing" topping last week’s poll (tough crowd!) about Stumptown Savings community building, two exciting options tied for second place — and I’m launching both.


What Types of Stumptown Savings Community Activities Are You Most Interested In?

🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️ Monthly happy hours (casual drinks + food talk) (6)
🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️ Discord group (an exclusive digital space for Stumptown Savings subscribers) (6)
🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Quarterly food tours (guided neighborhood walks) (4)
🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Recipe swaps (monthly or quarterly themed potlucks) (3)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Market meetups (group trips to farmers markets) (0)
🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Group cooking classes (in-person or online) (3)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I'm good with just the newsletter (no extra community) (7)
29 total votes

Ready to connect with your fellow Stumptown Savers? The Savers Club Discord launches TODAY! For now, it's open to all subscribers, but starting next month, it becomes an exclusive perk for Savers Club members only ($5/month, $50/year).

Plus, our inaugural Stumptown Savings happy hour is coming in July! Have the perfect venue in mind? Drop me a line: your suggestion could become the gathering spot where Portland's savviest shoppers meet next month.

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While the weekly deals email is free for everyone, you’re missing out on extended coverage, like my upcoming summer produce guide. Become a Stumptown Savers Club member today and gain exclusive access to insider store guides, seasonal produce tips, and in-depth strategies that help you shop smarter and eat better — all while supporting local. Join the Club for $5 a month — less than a carton of eggs.

Your membership transforms how you shop while supporting local journalism that helps all Portlanders save money. Join today!

Happy saving!

Bryan
Founder/Publisher,
Stumptown Savings

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