Over the past few weeks I’ve had the opportunity to travel through 5 Canadian provinces.  I’ve always been fascinated with the cost of food. This probably came from my previous employment as manager for Natures Harvest health food store and Smythe Street Superstore Natural Value Manager.  While stopping in each province I visited local health food stores, grocery stores, cafes and airports on the hunt for new products.  

When it comes to food, Ontario = Accessible.  I noticed that this province stood out from others when it came to quality and price.  In Toronto I stayed in Bloor West Village (aka Korea Town) where fresh fruit and vegetable stands overtook several blocks of sidewalk. Each morning I would walk “downstairs” to the street vendor to buy fresh fruit. A box of local strawberries sold for $2.00, while the imported mangoes were only $0.79 each.   

In Ottawa I visited an impressive small grocery store called Farm Boys (which actually inspired me to write this post ).  I loved everything about this store: service, cleanliness, quality and most importantly price.  Farm Boys stocked MANY organic, specialty and local products.  You can buy 3 bunches of radishes for $1.00, and 5 English cukes for $4.00.  I was especially impressed with the deli section, and they even stocked the famous PEI Cows Extra Old Cheddar cheese, YUM!! 

A quick trip to Gatineau, Quebec as well as a stopover at the Montreal airport showed me how the Quebecois eat.  The Gatineau grocery store was relatively well priced, with seasonal produce stocked at the front. The tomatoes were on sale for $0, 88 a pound.   Even the sandwich I ordered at a café in Gatineau was healthy, well priced and washed down with local full bodied coffee. Delicious!  At  the Montreal airport I grabbed an Odwalla Lifefood fruit smoothie which filled the void in-between my flights.

When I see my favorite foods less than 1/3 of the price in Central Canada (compared to PEI)-  it makes me want to fill my suitcase even more. I’ve been known to fly a few special goods home. A trip to Toronto is never complete without a shopping trip to China Town. Last time I picked up a HUGE bag of organic brown rice for $2.29. In Ottawa at Farm Boys I picked up a bag of 12 organic lemons for $2.99. They made it all the way home in my checked suitcase.

My clients often complain about the high cost of food in PEI. Because we live on an Island the majority of food must be imported across Confederation Bridge.  If customers are willing to eat seasonal and local foods, the price will be less expensive.  It is cheaper to buy Island produce, especially when in season. I like to shop at the Riverview Market in PEI, and feel good about helping out my local farmers and supporting the Island economy. 

Are you a frequent traveler? What are your thoughts about regional food prices? I’d love to hear your thoughts and write your comments below.