Nine ways to save on groceries because of the drought

CLEVELAND - It's been a scorcher of a summer. Sweltering temperatures and little rain. One third of the country's corn crop is in trouble. Dairy farmers said prices will increase because the lack of grain to feed cattle -- some predict up to 4 1/2 percent.

Meat prices will decrease in the short term due to farmers selling off cattle because they can't feed them. But eventually, beef and poultry prices could also rise by 4 1/2 percent.

It's not just the lack of rain. The extreme heat also means infect infestations. In some parts of the country grasshoppers are feasting on crops.

The Ohio Grocer's Association said it will likely take a few months for the increase to affect your dinner table. Its advice is to take advantage of stock-up deals now, while prices are low. Here are nine other smart grocery shopping habit to save money down the road.

1. Buy Organic Selectively
Being choosy about what you put in your body is a good thing, but not all organic produce is created equal. According to webmd.com , fruits and veggies with tough, inedible or removable skins are a waste of money when purchased organic, since most of the pesticides can be removed or washed away.

2. Buy in Bulk to Save
You can realize a ton of savings when purchasing items in bulk, but just like organic produce, you must be selective to yield true savings. Cereal, olive oil, frozen food and select toiletries should all make it onto your warehouse club list. Perishable items like produce, bread and some OTC medication should be avoided in bulk since it will likely go bad before you have a chance to use it. However, meat bought in bulk is always cheaper. Just be prepared to freeze that which you don't use for later.

3. Try Before You Buy
There's nothing worse than purchasing a product for the first time, only to realize it's not what you expected. Luckily, manufacturers of newly released products will often offer free samples of the product to get people interested. Check out the food and beverage page on mrfreestuff.com for the latest offerings on everything from cereal to energy drinks.

4. Don't Overlook Drugstores
You may hit up your local Walgreens for prescriptions and toothpaste, but drugstores are also a good outlet for select foods. In fact, many drugstores are adding fresh food like milk and eggs to create a one-stop shop with prices near 10-percent less than supermarkets. During sale time, you can often pick up name-brand cereal and other edible essentials for great savings. Keep tabs on sales and promotions by signing up for a free loyalty program and earn extra savings or coupons.

5. Dollar Store Suggestions
Many people picture dusty shelves and expired food items when they think of their local 99-cent store. These days, however, dollar store chains have expanded across the country and now offer great savings on national, name-brand products including food. According to ,  http://www.shopsmartmag.org consumers should consider private-label or store brands at chains like Family Dollar, Dollar General or Dollar Tree to save an average of 29 percent over grocery stores brands. When selecting items at the dollar store, look for expiration dates and review packaging. I prefer buying non-perishable items like condiments, cereal and snacks.

6. Use Coupons
Thanks to the economy, coupon clipping is no longer confined to stay-at-home-moms on a tight budget. According to marketing retail services agency Valassis shoppers saved $4.6 billion with coupons in 2011, a 12.2 percent increase over 2010. Perhaps this increase is due to the increased accessibility of coupons due to technology. The Coupon Sherpa mobile app, for example, allows users to load grocery coupons to their supermarket loyalty card, making savings easy.

7. Avoid Prepackaged and Pre-cut
Convenience is key in our busy American lifestyles, but you always pay extra for it. Pre-cut fruits and veggies are marked up 40-percent over their whole-food counterparts and are likely missing some of their beneficial nutrients. Save money by purchasing fresh fruit and salad mixings individually, and carve out some time over the weekend to chop and store for use during the week.

8. Bake Your Own Treats
The bakery is one of the most overpriced sections of any grocery store, with markups topping 300 percent. Baking cookies, cupcakes and birthday cakes from scratch is the cheapest way to go, but even boxed cake and brownie mixes are a less expensive alternative to the bakery.

Nationally recognized consumer and money saving expert, Andrea Woroch contributed to this story.