This is a little off topic from the piece, but it's related to food costs and reading through this made me think of it. I can't speak for Canada, but at least in the US the idea of "local" is, at least anecdotally speaking, directly correlated to higher prices. It's also perceived as being more expensive and, in a way, elitist - getting a steak from a local butcher has a pretentious connotation. Contrast that to many other places around the world and anything produced domestically is so much cheaper, and anything imported is more expensive. The obvious examples being somewhere like France or Italy, but it feels pretty universal. Here in the PNW, we grow a ton of apples and have plenty of wine, but it doesn't feel like we get a home state/regional discount at the store. I'm sure there's discussion and some understanding of how we got into this economic mess, but it's so infuriatingly backwards. I'm sure labor costs are involved and consolidation in the food system writ large. But it feels like there are bigger macro economic forces at play, too - any articles, papers, thoughts, or research you have would be interesting!
Sarah- I’m still shocked by the per pound and per kilogram difference! Thank you for sharing. Hope you’re well this week? Cheers, -Thalia
isn’t it outrageous? my jaw dropped when i went to the grocery store to look too. thanks for reading, thalia!
This is a little off topic from the piece, but it's related to food costs and reading through this made me think of it. I can't speak for Canada, but at least in the US the idea of "local" is, at least anecdotally speaking, directly correlated to higher prices. It's also perceived as being more expensive and, in a way, elitist - getting a steak from a local butcher has a pretentious connotation. Contrast that to many other places around the world and anything produced domestically is so much cheaper, and anything imported is more expensive. The obvious examples being somewhere like France or Italy, but it feels pretty universal. Here in the PNW, we grow a ton of apples and have plenty of wine, but it doesn't feel like we get a home state/regional discount at the store. I'm sure there's discussion and some understanding of how we got into this economic mess, but it's so infuriatingly backwards. I'm sure labor costs are involved and consolidation in the food system writ large. But it feels like there are bigger macro economic forces at play, too - any articles, papers, thoughts, or research you have would be interesting!