[Lillie767]

I have much better fresh fruits and vegetables in Florida since many are locally grown and harvested than I had in NY or CT.

And, nothing in NY or CT is cheap.

So I'd rather pay for quality than buy on price.

Some people only see price and don't understand quality.

[Ghaati]

Meanwhile, nothing anyone is saying in any responses to this thread, explains HOW "families with no children" are spending $270/WEEK on groceries on average in Florida.

I say - it's not happening. Families without children aren't spending $270/week on groceries in Florida. My example up-thread shows what I would need to buy, just to spend over $200/week. Mostly at Publix, buying the most expensive things I could think of that people /might/ buy as weekly grocery items. And I still couldn't come up that high.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by Lillie767

I have much better fresh fruits and vegetables in Florida since many are locally grown and harvested than I had in NY or CT.

And, nothing in NY or CT is cheap.

So I'd rather pay for quality than buy on price.

Some people only see price and don't understand quality.

You must have lived in a remote vacuum given the massive size and number of real farmers markets in the Northeast. The quality of produce and diversity of product offered far exceeds what is seen in Florida as well as accessibility. Florida relies heavily on produce from Mexico and California despite being a leading producer of Tomatoes for example, which are weirdly sent out of state mostly as grocers like Publix look for the cheapest options available.

[sinatras]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

You must have lived in a remote vacuum given the massive size and number of real farmers markets in the Northeast. The quality of produce and diversity of product offered far exceeds what is seen in Florida as well as accessibility. Florida relies heavily on produce from Mexico and California despite being a leading producer of Tomatoes for example, which are weirdly sent out of state mostly as grocers like Publix look for the cheapest options available.

We are currently in the growing season for Florida. Yet 99% of the produce at stores is Canadian or Mexican or South American, or from California.

[dave w]

FL is supposed to be dripping in fresh strawberries but you go to the store and all you see is Driscoll's crappy no taste over sized berries. Sad

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by dave w

FL is supposed to be dripping in fresh strawberries but you go to the store and all you see is Driscoll's crappy no taste over sized berries. Sad

Originally Posted by kyle19125

You must have lived in a remote vacuum given the massive size and number of real farmers markets in the Northeast. The quality of produce and diversity of product offered far exceeds what is seen in Florida as well as accessibility. Florida relies heavily on produce from Mexico and California despite being a leading producer of Tomatoes for example, which are weirdly sent out of state mostly as grocers like Publix look for the cheapest options available.

Originally Posted by sinatras

We are currently in the growing season for Florida. Yet 99% of the produce at stores is Canadian or Mexican or South American, or from California.

LOL. Be careful. When I mentioned this early in this thread, I was told from someone from VA that I'm clueless and must think grocers grow their own crops.

Originally Posted by gemstone1

No insult intended, but spoken like someone who thinks milk comes from the store, or Sprouts grows their own...

Florida Agricultural Stats



Agriculture accounts for 2M jobs, 17% of total Florida jobs, and 12% of GDP.

Florida is a big player.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by sinatras

We are currently in the growing season for Florida. Yet 99% of the produce at stores is Canadian or Mexican or South American, or from California.

Pretty much always.

Yet Florida is the second largest producer of Tomatoes, Oranges, Cucumbers, Green Beans and Strawberries but outside of some Green Beans (Pero Family Farms in South Florida) you'll be hard-pressed to find them at Publix for example. Publix bids on the cheapest produce available which tends to be from Mexico and California where they're often picking early in the case of Tomatoes and gassing them to ripen red in transit to the store. Canadian Tomatoes are hothouse grown and outside of the Campari variety, mostly flavorless like the Mexican and California variety seen in FL supermarkets. Independent produce markets found in most cities seem to be the only alternative for locally grown, and the token few authentic farmers markets in the state.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by Ghaati

Meanwhile, nothing anyone is saying in any responses to this thread, explains HOW "families with no children" are spending $270/WEEK on groceries on average in Florida.

I say - it's not happening. Families without children aren't spending $270/week on groceries in Florida. My example up-thread shows what I would need to buy, just to spend over $200/week. Mostly at Publix, buying the most expensive things I could think of that people /might/ buy as weekly grocery items. And I still couldn't come up that high.

Because it's nonsense LOL...

I just looked at my most recent Instacart order, from Sprouts. This was last week,







Total, $122.50

Often times, add beer or wine, so throw in another $30 for good measure. That's around $150.

I'm pretty sure that the vast majority of Floridians don't shop like this at all.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by dave w

FL is supposed to be dripping in fresh strawberries but you go to the store and all you see is Driscoll's crappy no taste over sized berries. Sad

I don't know where you shop, but that is not true. I buy only "fresh from Florida" produce at my beautiful new Publix. Strawberries are from Wish Farms in Plant City and that includes organic. In fact, wherever possible Publix offers local produce, again, including organic. Not saying it's cheap, but there are often sales on it or other things that offset the price. If it's not local it's because it is out of season or otherwise unavailable. Even ALDI sells a lot of local produce.

Some here just like to hear themselves whine.....

P.S. Florida is not even in the TOP 10

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/the-...yours-stack-up

[MOforthewin]

Originally Posted by dave w

FL is supposed to be dripping in fresh strawberries but you go to the store and all you see is Driscoll's crappy no taste over sized berries. Sad

Places like Farmer Joes has the fresh stuff, not the Driscoll types that Publix, Winn Dixie, Walmart sells.