Are We Products of a Food War?

Grocery day. I did all my shopping at the South Side Superstore and Sobeys (up the hill). Everything went smoothly, though I admit to a few yearnings. I bought all my fresh produce at Sobeys, even tomatoes. I still notice one batch at the Superstore labeled incorrectly. I give up.

Sometimes, I would like to do a "Rant" while walking down the aisles. I would point out the signs, the fine print, and question how we quietly became invaded and never even noticed. I certainly don't mind trying different foods from different regions and countries. I just am a little surprised at how few truly Canadian products are offered. At least here in Fredericton, the percentage is very low. Local grocers should strive to carry at least fifty percent of Canadian produced food.

I would have thought McCains would use local, at least Canadian fruit and vegetables. But this does not appear to be so.....everything seems to be imported except for potatoes.

As a Canadian, I guess this would be a good place to say...I am sorry.

I am almost into my third month. Except for trying to read the small print...this is not difficult. I just have had to change a few brands / choices and switch from mostly fresh to frozen. I do agree with Whitefeather in regards to Organic PC products. Most are Products of Canada. I found a few items I probably would not have tried or noticed.

I actually feel I am eating healthier. Normally, I would depend on my grocer. Now I am depending on me. Now, I make sure I am having my fresh/frozen fruits and veggies daily.

The Wild Wild West Is Actually Far East

The Wild Pacific Salmon that I have been eating, ....is from China. I have been using this product for over two years, trying to avoid farmed salmon. I really thought I had checked.....guess not. Perhaps I will not be buying any salmon this year.

A few other items I notice I may not be purchasing are; peanut butter, rice, Go Lean cereal, pineapple and bananas. I am sure there will be more. I am now using Sunflower seed butter. Last week, I would have said the jar would see me through the year...but in less then two weeks, I have adjusted.

Water Tips

Today is World Water Day.

Sounds fishy to me........

My sources (and I have very good ones) tell me haddock IS scarce along the Fundy Coast. The haddock, at the Fredericton Market, was probably purchased from Deer Island, but caught in Nova Scotia. This is not a big deal, Canadian fish is Canadian fish.

This past Saturday Kevin approached a different fish stall at the market. (They were set up outside). When he asked about their haddock, they said it was from Bedford, N.S.

Vendors need to be honest and informed about their products.

Turn on the heat!

I just went shopping with a project in mind: make a soup today that contains only Canadian-produced ingredients. I thought I might end up with a version of 'Stone Soup', but I was delightfully surprised by how many purely Canadian (and organic) soup fixins I actually found:

- Thomas' Utopia Brand Organic Crushed Tomatoes (in a can) I'm fairly confident that this is Canadian because it's certified organic by the Organic Crop Producers & Processors Ontario Inc.
- Sawler parsnips (from Nova Scotia, no less!)
- PC Organics onions
- PC Ruby Little Gems Red Mini Potatoes
- Maritime Grown carrots (from PEI)
- Kingsclear mushrooms (from just up the road in Kingsclear, NB)
- and, a turnip that said 'Product of Canada'

Turning up the heat on Canadian grocers and food providers can happen through buying exclusively Canadian products, and with my environmental consciousness, I also try to thrown in organic products that are produced fairly locally (regionally).

PS - These items were all purchased at the Smythe Street Superstore.

I Dare you

Feb 08

Canucking at the Smythe St.Superstore. In the past I have tried to avoid shopping here, but it has the best selection, ...so far. Once again, they had tomatoes labeled incorrectly….Product of Canada on the sign….Product of Mexico on the tomato. I have to find a better way of reporting this error, reporting in person doesn’t seem to work.

So, I tried the phone. I was put on hold twice, directed to the wrong department , had to hang up and redial ( repunch?). When I finally reached a person in the Produce department…and I had my little say..they replied “okay”.

Hmmm……..well…..I did only ask for one thing. I asked if they would double check their labeling. An “okay” reply is….. okay. I guess I was hoping to find someone like the shrimp guy.

Dare products are Canadian. I think, I hope. All of the Dare cookies and crackers I checked say Family Owned. Proudly Canadian, and Product of Canada. Really , I almost started singing " Oh Canada".

Saturday morning I visited the local market. The first vegetable stand had fresh broccoli from Ontario. The next vegetable stand I checked was a family owned business from Centerville NB. They grow and sell their own carrots, potatoes, cabbage, parsnips. A great find.

As I was leaving the market, I passed the "regular" fish guy. A good time to check their haddock. Canadian haddock has been very scarce in the last few years. When I asked where their haddock was from, they replied….. “St George…no….wait….Deer Island..yes it is from Deer Island”. I found this amusing as there isn’t a huge span of water between these two areas. Now, I have to find out if we are catching local haddock. I hope so.

Here I go canucking

February 6

This week I visited M&Ms, a frozen food chain. The first four items I checked had “Product of Canada” in large print. No need to squint. They carry 3 different kinds of frozen vegetables. I bought the mixed and the corn, both very tasty. The third, had “packaged in Canada”. I am trying to avoid those labels. I did ask to see their frozen shrimp ….all products of Thailand. However, most of their meat selections are products of Canada. I refused to check the sweet section.

Then, I dropped into Zellers and guess what I found? They sell Ganong chocolate bars at the cash. I haven’t been able to find any in the grocery stores. I have only been able to find the chocolates in the bins at Scoop and Save.

Sometimes it seems my focus is on vegetables and candy. Well, equally important.

I am now looking for some sort of snacking chip for Kevin. He has to cut down on his snacking (he loves potato chips, they don’t love him), so I am trying to find a healthy alternative. I haven’t had any luck finding healthy Canadian ones.

Into my second month

First things first. I want to thank Whitefeather for helping me with this blogsite.

I wanted to be on a blogsite for a few reasons. I needed a place to record my progress plus keep track of my selections. I hope this helps me to be aware of my choices, and shopping becomes easier.

By the end of the year, I hope I wont have to read all the small print!!

My first month is over.....I feel I have been as pure as the labels indicate. But can I believe the labels. I am not quite ready to go down that road. My husband, Kevin, wonders how pure I have to be for my health. He thinks I might get sick. I am not worried. Not only am I taking vitamins, I am also eating rhubarb, cranberries and blueberries on a weekly basis. That is pretty healthy.