Indian and Northern Affairs Canada {INAC} is undertaking a review of the Food Mail program across the north. It has been 18 years since a review of the program was undertaken, seems if any improvements did come out of the last review they have been lost in more recent years.Below is the fruit shelf at Northern yesterday. As usual Northern has lots of apples [an apple a day seems to be their edict. Alas at those prices many would be scrapping to afford an apple a week let alone a day. Mind you a candy bar at $1.14 would seem better value, and taste better to many.
I am not pointing any fingers at “why the price”, but I do know why the quality is not what it could be, more on that later.
Here are some of the prices: Macintosh .59c. Granny Smith .89c Delicious .79c Lemon .69c. Lime .58c. Medium Oranges .75c. Large Oranges $1.49. Grapes [black] $8.99.
Not in view, Honeydew melon $5.49. Cantaloupe $3.69. Strawberries $7.49 a punnet [ouch]
The packet of 6 apples is priced at $4.29.
AS to milk, in Northern the prices are still the same as always, $6.28 for 3% and $6.29 for 1%.
In BigLand all milk is now $5.79, up .20 cents from last week. One wonders why the high prices now that milk freight is fully subsidized, this means no freight on milk.
Perhaps the spoilage form previous shipments are being passed on to the consumer. The claims process for both federal and provincial programs is so time consuming and antiquated that usually the retailer will not file a claim, they either reduce the price to sell or DUMP the spoiled product.
Then again perhaps there are other factors in play dictating the prices, but the consumer needs to know these factors, it is tax payers money involved here.
Not in view, Honeydew melon $5.49. Cantaloupe $3.69. Strawberries $7.49 a punnet [ouch]
The packet of 6 apples is priced at $4.29.
AS to milk, in Northern the prices are still the same as always, $6.28 for 3% and $6.29 for 1%.
In BigLand all milk is now $5.79, up .20 cents from last week. One wonders why the high prices now that milk freight is fully subsidized, this means no freight on milk.
Perhaps the spoilage form previous shipments are being passed on to the consumer. The claims process for both federal and provincial programs is so time consuming and antiquated that usually the retailer will not file a claim, they either reduce the price to sell or DUMP the spoiled product.
Then again perhaps there are other factors in play dictating the prices, but the consumer needs to know these factors, it is tax payers money involved here.
I just heard the store manager [CBC Labrador Morning] try to justify the cost of the infamous water melon of last week. The $55.00 price was a mistake; it should have been $38.00.
The melon weighed in at 10KG. It is claimed with all subsidies included BigLand still had to pay .68 cents a KG for shipping the melon. Add .75 cents per packet [Canada post charge], plus HST you are looking at $8.68 shipping from Goose Bay to Nain. That leaves $29.32. Seeing that melons were selling for under $10.00 in Goose Bay last week there are still many ????????
Heading for de heat wave, +20 at 8.30 in the AM.
Later: Just back from the dock at 1530 hours, no respite down there either as the wind is off the land. We have broken the record for this day, 29 at moment, old record was in 2001 at 25.5.
2 comments:
Mind you a candy bar at $1.14 would seem better value, and taste better to many.
In other words... a bar (and from my experience, bags of chips and cans of pop) are the same price, OR LESS, than they are in urban centres?
Are they cheaper to transport, kilo per kilo, than more wholesome fare?
Varies from store to store for pop. Mind you it is boated in this time of year.
On sale: .42 cents+ at BigLand for diet Pepsi and coke. Usually .80 cents for regular. .
.80 cents+ at Northern, no specials there.
Chips vary but there are many choices and sizes to choose from.
If stocks run out in winter then re supply is flown in, gets up to $1.50+ for a can then.
Same with chips, flown in if stocks run out, some times managers claim they absorb the cost of the chips freight.
Post a Comment