JANUARY 28, 2008
Oops..guess I am not finished for the month. I visited the Southside Superstore today, I needed to pick up a few things. Tomatoes being one item. And what a display I found….rows and rows of tomatoes from Mexico. Ahhh…but then I spot a pkg of 4….the sign reads Canada. They are expensive, but this is not about cost. I pick up a package, and ,just from experience, double check the small print. Well, the print was so small, I had to move to better light. After squinting for a few minutes I read…..Product of Mexico, not Canada. Sigh. I return to the produce section, and notice the produce guy right beside the tomatoes. I point out that the sign says Canada, but the package says Mexico. His reply was to go with what the pkg said. Yeah….well…..I put the pkg back on the shelf and left.
I find this type of mistake almost every time I am shopping. I always point it out as nicely as possible, but they really don’t see the problem.
My top pick, this month, is the Superstore Southside ....but they need to improve their labeling. My next is Sobeys up the hill...mostly because the worker tried so hard to find shrimp.
I have yet to visit the Health food stores, Northside Sobeys, and our local Farmers Market.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Canadian shrimp a bit shrimpy
JANUARY 24, 2008
Payday….and grocery day. This will be the last big shopping day for this month. It will also conclude my first month buying totally Canadian. It was easier then I expected. My biggest negative.... having to travel to different grocery stores hoping I can find my missed items. So, any effort in supporting only Canadian products, may be harmful to my health. ..(using the car more often and the loss of my fresh greens).
But I am taking vitamins….and extra vitamin C.
The time frame is a bit annoying, until I find my true brands. My problems this time...trying to find tomatoes and shrimp. Kevin found the tomatoes at Sobeys downtown…….hot house on a vine.
I did most of my shopping this time at the Northside Superstore…this store rates the lowest.
My greatest feat/defeat was finding shrimp. I tried both Superstores, but every package of frozen shrimp was from China or Thailand. Next, I tried Sobeys (up the hill). Again, more frozen shrimp from Asia. This was my third store, I was tired .....I probably would have gone home without any shrimp. But, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a young fellow stacking a shelf. I asked if they sold any Canadian frozen shrimp as I was only interested in buying Canadian. He could not find any. I thanked him and continued with my shopping. Twice he approached me with frozen bags of shrimp. The first bag was prepared in Canada, but a product of Thailand. He could not believe it wasn’t Canadian. The second package he brought to me...was a product of Canada. I really didn’t want to buy them, they did not look very appetizing, but I did. Why? Because this young man had gone to so much trouble, and because some day he may be the manager of the fish department, and just maybe he will try to find better looking (and tasting) frozen Canadian shrimp.
I do feel I made him aware of what is being sold in the fish department.
As for the shrimp. It said to rinse really well, and then add them to your sandwich or pasta. Well, I made pasta, forgot to rinse , and ruined the pasta. They had been frozen in heavily salted water. Now how do they freeze shrimp in China and Thailand without all this salt?
I found two new items that I am enjoying. One is a crumbled Feta cheese. The brand name is Silani. It has a great little recipe for Shrimp and feta pasta on the reverse. I am sure it would have been delicious, if I had only remembered to rinse the shrimp.
The second item is Northumberland Apple Cranberry Juice. It is cold pressed and very tasty. It does say it has added sugar, but total carbohydrates seem about average. It doesn’t say if they use Canadian fruit….but they are located in the Miramichi,….really…..they must be using local cranberries and apples. Please.
That is it for January. My number one miss….my greens. My number one find…the feta cheese.
Payday….and grocery day. This will be the last big shopping day for this month. It will also conclude my first month buying totally Canadian. It was easier then I expected. My biggest negative.... having to travel to different grocery stores hoping I can find my missed items. So, any effort in supporting only Canadian products, may be harmful to my health. ..(using the car more often and the loss of my fresh greens).
But I am taking vitamins….and extra vitamin C.
The time frame is a bit annoying, until I find my true brands. My problems this time...trying to find tomatoes and shrimp. Kevin found the tomatoes at Sobeys downtown…….hot house on a vine.
I did most of my shopping this time at the Northside Superstore…this store rates the lowest.
My greatest feat/defeat was finding shrimp. I tried both Superstores, but every package of frozen shrimp was from China or Thailand. Next, I tried Sobeys (up the hill). Again, more frozen shrimp from Asia. This was my third store, I was tired .....I probably would have gone home without any shrimp. But, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a young fellow stacking a shelf. I asked if they sold any Canadian frozen shrimp as I was only interested in buying Canadian. He could not find any. I thanked him and continued with my shopping. Twice he approached me with frozen bags of shrimp. The first bag was prepared in Canada, but a product of Thailand. He could not believe it wasn’t Canadian. The second package he brought to me...was a product of Canada. I really didn’t want to buy them, they did not look very appetizing, but I did. Why? Because this young man had gone to so much trouble, and because some day he may be the manager of the fish department, and just maybe he will try to find better looking (and tasting) frozen Canadian shrimp.
I do feel I made him aware of what is being sold in the fish department.
As for the shrimp. It said to rinse really well, and then add them to your sandwich or pasta. Well, I made pasta, forgot to rinse , and ruined the pasta. They had been frozen in heavily salted water. Now how do they freeze shrimp in China and Thailand without all this salt?
I found two new items that I am enjoying. One is a crumbled Feta cheese. The brand name is Silani. It has a great little recipe for Shrimp and feta pasta on the reverse. I am sure it would have been delicious, if I had only remembered to rinse the shrimp.
The second item is Northumberland Apple Cranberry Juice. It is cold pressed and very tasty. It does say it has added sugar, but total carbohydrates seem about average. It doesn’t say if they use Canadian fruit….but they are located in the Miramichi,….really…..they must be using local cranberries and apples. Please.
That is it for January. My number one miss….my greens. My number one find…the feta cheese.
Frozen food, well it is winter
JANUARY 14, 2008
It is time for some product/brand names.
I found my favorite sugar substitute, Splenda with brown sugar, is not Canadian…it is American.
As for fruits, well, I found frozen strawberries from Nova Scotia, Knol Farms. Canadian Frozen Blueberries, Europe’s Best. I checked everything on this packaged….it says Canada on the front, and product of Canada on the back…so I guess the company is Canadian, even though most of their products are not…just the blueberries.
I could not find fresh or frozen spinach. None Canadian. I found Canadian frozen broccoli and a package of frozen vegetables. Brand name - Arctic Gardens. I did find fresh leeks that can be frozen. I have often used this product. You can just grab a handful anytime you want. Brand name of Les Cultures de Chez Nous Inc.
I found Sobeys downtown had the poorest selection. Superstore on the Southside, not too bad, but my pick for this week is Sobeys uptown. It had the best Canadian frozen selection. I have yet to try the Superstore and Sobeys on the northside.
It is time for some product/brand names.
I found my favorite sugar substitute, Splenda with brown sugar, is not Canadian…it is American.
As for fruits, well, I found frozen strawberries from Nova Scotia, Knol Farms. Canadian Frozen Blueberries, Europe’s Best. I checked everything on this packaged….it says Canada on the front, and product of Canada on the back…so I guess the company is Canadian, even though most of their products are not…just the blueberries.
I could not find fresh or frozen spinach. None Canadian. I found Canadian frozen broccoli and a package of frozen vegetables. Brand name - Arctic Gardens. I did find fresh leeks that can be frozen. I have often used this product. You can just grab a handful anytime you want. Brand name of Les Cultures de Chez Nous Inc.
I found Sobeys downtown had the poorest selection. Superstore on the Southside, not too bad, but my pick for this week is Sobeys uptown. It had the best Canadian frozen selection. I have yet to try the Superstore and Sobeys on the northside.
Spinach finished?
JANUARY 11, 2008
Ahhhh……yesterday was the big grocery day. I spent $134 on totally Canadian food. However, very little Canadian produce. I only found apples, potatoes, carrots, onions and fresh herbs. I guess that new recipe I really wanted to try with spinach and red pepper will have to wait. I couldn’t even find any frozen spinach. Hmmm..again…this was something Kevin could grow in his garden….all pesticide free….why wouldn’t we carry any Canadian frozen spinach.
My shopping was all done at Sobeys (downtown). I was disappointed.
Later in the day, Kevin made a run to the Superstore . He wasn't able to find spinach or red pepper, but did pick up a few items for his lunch. He bought his favorite frozen dinners. Alas, they were packaged in the US. You cannot return frozen food, and we really want to try and make this work, to live with our mistakes.....so... I threw them out.
I didn’t find this too difficult…as I have been going down this road for a few years…with just a few detours. I do see lots of choices for some lovely Quebec cheeses I am eager to try. Some are a bit pricey, but I will have extra money from not buying lots of fruit.
I wonder what my cholesterol levels will be by summer. More cheese and less fruit.
Ahhhh……yesterday was the big grocery day. I spent $134 on totally Canadian food. However, very little Canadian produce. I only found apples, potatoes, carrots, onions and fresh herbs. I guess that new recipe I really wanted to try with spinach and red pepper will have to wait. I couldn’t even find any frozen spinach. Hmmm..again…this was something Kevin could grow in his garden….all pesticide free….why wouldn’t we carry any Canadian frozen spinach.
My shopping was all done at Sobeys (downtown). I was disappointed.
Later in the day, Kevin made a run to the Superstore . He wasn't able to find spinach or red pepper, but did pick up a few items for his lunch. He bought his favorite frozen dinners. Alas, they were packaged in the US. You cannot return frozen food, and we really want to try and make this work, to live with our mistakes.....so... I threw them out.
I didn’t find this too difficult…as I have been going down this road for a few years…with just a few detours. I do see lots of choices for some lovely Quebec cheeses I am eager to try. Some are a bit pricey, but I will have extra money from not buying lots of fruit.
I wonder what my cholesterol levels will be by summer. More cheese and less fruit.
No Canadian Carrots today
JANUARY 4, 2008
Today I went to the Superstore on Smythe Street . I found Canadian potatoes and onions. They were out of carrots…and the only other Canadian veggies in stock were eggplants and cucumbers. Guess I will start looking for more eggplant recipes.
I also purchased bread, yogurt, sandwich meat and cheese…..all Canadian. All local items.
Today I went to the Superstore on Smythe Street . I found Canadian potatoes and onions. They were out of carrots…and the only other Canadian veggies in stock were eggplants and cucumbers. Guess I will start looking for more eggplant recipes.
I also purchased bread, yogurt, sandwich meat and cheese…..all Canadian. All local items.
Canada rules, but can we find their food?
JANUARY 3, 2008
A new year and a new project. I am determined to purchase Canadian produced food for one year. With two exceptions. I have an addiction to coffee and chocolate, so I have stretched my list to include fair trade products. Since I have been involved with the concept of 'Fair Trade' for over 10 years, I will continue to support those products. I purchase JustUs coffee, tea and sugar....packaged in Nova Scotia….and now will only buy Ganong Chocolates (for the next year).
I volunteer at a shop which supports Fair Trade Principles. This shop is a great source of information, and introduced me to the concept of a sustainable diet. This was exactly what I wanted to be doing, eating only what my area, and/or country could produce. But alas, in Atlantic Canada, we often are not producing year round.
In the last 4 years, I have had difficulty, at certain times of the year, finding Canadian potatoes, carrots and onions. Gee….isn’t NB famous for its potatoes? We should have them all year round. And if my husband and I can grow onions and carrots in our gardens…where are the Canadian farmers? I started looking in the frozen section. I found broccoli, then I started looking at can vegetables, I found a brand produced in NS. It was a start.
For the past few years, I have been checking more and more labels. I ask produce managers if they have any Canadian potatoes, carrots or onions. I get different answers. I do see more signs on the food, someone else must be asking as well.
January 2008, the real work begins. My friend Whitefeather has agreed to help me start a blog.
I am eager to start.
A new year and a new project. I am determined to purchase Canadian produced food for one year. With two exceptions. I have an addiction to coffee and chocolate, so I have stretched my list to include fair trade products. Since I have been involved with the concept of 'Fair Trade' for over 10 years, I will continue to support those products. I purchase JustUs coffee, tea and sugar....packaged in Nova Scotia….and now will only buy Ganong Chocolates (for the next year).
I volunteer at a shop which supports Fair Trade Principles. This shop is a great source of information, and introduced me to the concept of a sustainable diet. This was exactly what I wanted to be doing, eating only what my area, and/or country could produce. But alas, in Atlantic Canada, we often are not producing year round.
In the last 4 years, I have had difficulty, at certain times of the year, finding Canadian potatoes, carrots and onions. Gee….isn’t NB famous for its potatoes? We should have them all year round. And if my husband and I can grow onions and carrots in our gardens…where are the Canadian farmers? I started looking in the frozen section. I found broccoli, then I started looking at can vegetables, I found a brand produced in NS. It was a start.
For the past few years, I have been checking more and more labels. I ask produce managers if they have any Canadian potatoes, carrots or onions. I get different answers. I do see more signs on the food, someone else must be asking as well.
January 2008, the real work begins. My friend Whitefeather has agreed to help me start a blog.
I am eager to start.
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