I stand corrected.....this time ( one and counting)

True to my word, I occasionally recheck products and labels. (The recent discovery of Highliners Wild Pacific Salmon being a product of China, still haunts me).

Last night I was canucking at Sobeys on the North Side. While I was checking the frozen vegetable section, I found my second McCain’s product of Canada. My initial search of McCain’s frozen vegetables resulted in only finding their potatoes being a product of Canada. Well, last night, I found a package of frozen mixed vegetables.

This was my first visit to the north side Sobeys in a few years. It was great…it may be the largest Sobeys in town. I visited early evening and it was not busy….only one person in front of us at the check out. This is my kind of store.

They carried the usual brands of Canadian products…fresh, packaged and frozen, but their selection seemed to be larger. Or they are unique in having their shelves fully stocked. This would be a first for large chain grocery stores in Fredericton.

I definitely will return to this Sobeys store to do my shopping.

Saint John has the market....on fish

This past weekend I visited the city market in Saint John…...delicious!

I checked one fish and two vegetable stands for Canadian content. The vegetable choices looked about the same as here in Fredericton. Lots of selections from Mexico, but just a few Canadian choices.

It was a very different story with the fresh fish……lots of choices. I was told the fish was all caught off Nova Scotia. Their fish looked delicious….and very fresh. I bought the Lemon Dill Haddock and a few fish cakes.

I visited a few other stalls, bought bread, cookies and some great snacking chips. I now wish I had picked up a few of the dipping sauces to go with the chips. I also found wine made in New Brunswick…it looked interesting, and a plus for any wine drinker who wants to try the 100 mile diet in NB.

It is a gourmet delight visiting this market.

Freddy Beach Fish

I checked Peter’s Meat Market on the north side. It also carries fish. This is what I found:

-Frozen shrimp and haddock from China.
-Fresh Canadian scallops, mussels and haddock.
- Frozen Canadian Boston bluefish

I asked where the fresh haddock was caught and was told it was "from" Nova Scotia. I repeated the question “where was the haddock caught”? The reply… “Well, it’s Canadian”.

Why is this question so difficult to answer?

Think about it.....

I love the comedy duo " Flight of the Conchords". My favorite sketch is one called " Think about it"..very funny. They are quite clever, making me laugh..and think.

I have been thinking about CBC today.

This morning, I was listening to the CBC news. They mentioned we should notice a decrease in the cost of our groceries. Apparently due to the high loonie. This is great news. Except a few weeks ago, CBC reported our food bills will be increasing due to the high cost of gasoline.

Think about it.........

The 1074 Mile Diet

The 100 mile diet. This is a great concept, IF you are living in an area that produces local food all year.

If you plan on eating only local food….if you plan on eating foods required in a healthy diet…… this might work year round in southern BC. Where do you buy fresh local fruit and vegetables in December if you live in any other province? Maybe other provinces carry more hot house items then NB. We don’t seem to carry very many here in Fredericton.

A few people assume I am using the 100 mile diet. That would not be possible living here in Fredericton, I would have an endless list of forbidden Canadian products. It would include my much loved wine from Pelee Island.

Pelee Island Winery carries my favorite wines. And they are Canadian. I tried their wine when my son and his wife were living in Kingston, Ontario. Every time we visited, we would end up at this classy little bar called “The Tango”. It was there I was introduced to some great Canadian wines. In fact, their house wine was from the Pelee Island Wineries, and ended up being my favorite.

Hmmm… to be a bit more realistic, I am on the 1074 mile diet. Actually, make that the 1729 km diet. (The distance between Fredericton and Pelee Island).

Great Expectations

I am marching into my third month, and am concerned with a few of my findings. I expected, by now, to be whining about missed fruit and vegetables. But, that hasn't happened. I knew I would be giving up items and looking for alternatives.

What I didn't expect, was to be giving up foods I previously thought were Canadian products.

What I didn't expect....was how difficult it is to find frozen Canadian fish.

I guess I never checked the labels. I just assumed the majority of frozen fish sold in our grocery stores were products of Canada. Living in New Brunswick....I probably thought they might be local products. Every package (that I have found) of frozen Highliner fish, is a product of China.

I didn't expect I would have to be so careful with frozen fish products. I assumed the stores would carry local choices, at least Canadian choices. I also checked the store brand packs of frozen fish.

I did my shopping at Sobeys and the Superstore. I thought it was easier. Well, it was easier, just not worthwhile. I can do better. .