The Gala Event

I have probably been buying apples from Scotian Gold forever….well, certainly since Jan 01/08. They are based in Nova Scotia, and Nova Scotia is known for their great apples. This year I found a new item..their Apple Snack. A prepared bag of sliced Gala apples in a resealable bag….that lasts for a few weeks.

The other night, a few ladies were over, and I just had to show them this tasty new item. I passed the bag around…so pleased with myself. And then I heard one lady say quietly…..” they are from Chile”…..I looked at her, and smiled, knowing she was joking….but no….she turned the bag over …and there in bold letters “product of Chile”.

It really is funny if you know me. But a bit annoying to keep finding little (big) errors in my purchases. To be honest….I don’t think I turned this bag over. I previously had checked their bag of apples…all products of NS. They grow apples …they are known for their apples. So an apple producing company would use their local apples. Right?

I checked their website…
http://www.scotiangold.com/

This is what they say about their business;

"We are a producer-owned apple cooperative helping to maximize our growers' yields and revenues. Through our 55 committed growers, we have over 2500 acres of apple production across the fertile Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia's agricultural centre."

Their website is amazing. Lots of information. I particularly like the page about apple varieties….what ones to eat fresh or use for baking.

There is a small article about the snacking apple…no mention of it being a Gala apple from Chile.

Am I missing something here?

So…I sent an email to them asking why they use apples from Chile. This is their response;

“Scotian Gold is a grower owned cooperative and we store, pack and ship the apples produced by over 50 local orchards. Our Scotian Gold Apple Snacks are a healthy snack option and we use the Royal Gala apple variety to provide our customers with a sweet and crunchy eating experience. At this point, there are not enough Royal Gala apples grown locally to supply our production, so we follow the Gala crops from one growing area to another. We move from Nova Scotian product, to other areas of Canada, to USA to Chilean. This time of year, the newest crop comes out of Chile and we bring them direct from Chile to our processing facility in Coldbrook, Nova Scotia. The apples are graded, sliced and packaged in our plant by local labor. Our growers are investing in replanting programs in their orchards to produce more Galas for Scotian Gold. Tree fruit takes 3-5 years to come into production, so we will start to see the increased local supply in the next few years.”

So….why not use a local grown variety which is currently available?

Again….am I missing something here?

Old seeds

On Sunday, Kevin and I attended an event held by Fredericton Heritage Inc. They had a panel of speakers discussing growing vegetables, herbs and fruits. We found it very helpful, and went away planting lots of ideas.

We are already organic gardeners……with so-so success (not a lot of fruits for our labor). This event may have given us just the right information for improvement.

I really enjoyed the talk on Heritage seeds. The links below are local nurseries and a few Heritage seed suppliers.

Seeds of Diversity
www.seeds.ca/en.php

Sweet Valley Herbs
http://www.sweetvalleyherbs.com/

Currie Greenhouses
http://www.5064448109.yp.ca/

Scott’s Nursery
http://www.scottsnursery.nb.ca/

New Brunswick Soils and Feed Lab
www.canadiangardening.com/cg_soiltesting.shtml

What's in your backyard?

Last night we had our first barbeque of the season. While adults chatted and sipped beverages, the children played in our backyard snow bank. They took a few breaks to snack…and to sing their bilingual version of “Oh Canada”…which was noted by a friend as maybe being part of a theme.

We didn’t have anything fancy…just hot dogs and hamburgers (But that is what a barbeque is suppose to be….simple and relaxing). Along with the protein, we had potato salad, sliced cucumbers, sweet yellow peppers, and Ontario wine. For dessert ....ice cream sandwiches (vanilla ice cream between Dare Chocolate wafers). All Canadian, and bought at the Northside Sobeys.

It is now the middle of April….though we still have snow, we can see green grass. The first of our local greens, fiddleheads, will soon be available. Have I crossed a hurdle?

The Return of the North Side Sobeys

Yeah, okay…. so Star War reruns are on the telly.

I returned to the NS Sobeys on a Thursday, a government payday. This would be one of the busiest shopping days outside of a Saturday. I parked right in front of the store…found a shopping cart…and was off. I had lots of time to visit each aisle..and I was impressed.

At first I was a bit disappointed to find their specialty food section not very large. I was looking for my wheat free flour and cereal. They have them…they just carry them with the rest of the flour and cereal. What a novel idea. I like it being with the regular flour and cereals.

At the Superstore there is a special section for the special food. I don’t think it works as well as Sobeys .

Three times I was asked by clerks if I needed any help. Really. I am not sure I have ever been asked in any other big chain grocery store in Fredericton. Usually I am searching for and having difficulty finding a clerk.

I bought tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, carrots, zucchini, potatoes and leeks. Usually I have to visit 2 stores on the south side to find all my fresh produce.

I had lots of time to browse, so checked out the can fish situation…..I could not find one can of Canadian shrimp, tuna or salmon. Clover Leaf and Gold Seal tins were all products of Thailand.

Sobeys dill pickles are a product of India…but Bicks pickles are a product of Canada.

When I had finished shopping, I actually found an empty check-out. All in all…this store tops all the others in town.

Also, since Fredericton decided to close their downtown Liquor store (on the south side), one has to travel up the hill and risk life and limb to visit the Liquor store in the Prospect Mall. Yeah, I know, there is a little shop beside the south side Superstore, but it doesn’t always carry my choice of wine. So, an added bonus to shopping at this Sobeys, there is a liquor store around the back….and they do carry my wine.

PHISH PHACTS

I received a suggestion from a friend to check Clearwater Seafoods. I have, and I have posted their link. They are based in Nova Scotia and sell seafood online.

I wonder if we can find their seafood in Fredericton…if not, then I am willing to place an order. I would like to try their shrimp.

I checked product information online, and except for the Argentine scallops…all appear to be caught in North Atlantic waters.

As for the Argentine scallops…..they were caught by Clearwater fisheries, processed on ship and brought to the market in Canada.

They are not a product of Canada. However, they are processed under Canadian guidelines and packaged in Canada.

I will stick to our scallops….they work just fine.

I wonder if frozen Highliner haddock is caught in Canadian waters by Asian vessels.

Still….the processing guidelines would be different.

http://www.clearwater.ca/inv-aboutus-e.asp?cmPageID=111

Spring in my step, not in my garden

Just in case I need a reminder of how my back deck looked the beginning of April 08. Poor Munroe is trying to find a bit of green grass to chew.

All in all……I have found the snow more difficult then the hunt for Canadian food.

Next year should be easier, as I will be more prepared…… for the grocery shopping, not the snow.