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[rykomatsu]

Holy shit if this guy was to eat a motherfuckin' Honeycrisp... he'd probably explode.

Haha honeycrisp are awesome! Pricey too at $2.50/lb

I'm hoping there are some wealthy GAFers that were at some point poor/middle income to illustrate the contrast...if it exists that is.

Yes, definite differences.

For example, many heirloom tomatoes taste amazing (black krim, pineapple, chocolate cherry) - brix values are off the charts, a lot of umami taste, etc. They're not disease resistant, so crop yields can be quite low. Add to that, they also scar easily and what have you so the yield of marketable heirloom tomatoes dwindle, increasing the price significantly. When you have the basic tomato at $1.99/lb and an heirloom at $5.99/lb, the heirloom is a luxury, so it doesn't make sense to sell in a poorer neighborhood.

Another example are alpine strawberries. EXTREMELY flavorful, but bruises easily and don't really last long on the shelf. They need to go from farm to market extremely quickly, so usually end up at farmer's markets. Further, the target market is a more discriminating audience, so they usually end up at higher end farmer's markets. Again, when regular strawberries are $1.99/basket and alpine strawberries at $8-10/basket, it becomes a luxury and doesn't make sense to sell in a poorer neighborhood.

Some things don't really make sense to buy at places like Whole Foods, though...broccoli, cauliflower, onions, etc...unless it's for convenience, I goto a Safeway in a poorer part of town (that is between the local Whole Foods and home) where it's $2.99 a head for something versus $2.99/lb for the same thing at WF.

Even between Safeways, the products can be quite different - local one doesn't have Justin's Peanut Butter or Talenti Ice Cream, but the one a little bit further away in a wealthy neighborhood has a whole slew of them. Disposable income on food and expectations based on this really plays a role in what's available and what's not.

 

[way more]

That juicy apple-pear that I mentioned was pretty expensive, around the same price besada's apple was. Bad fruit tastes limp and flavorless. Good fruit is amazing.

Ah, it was expensive. I forgot to list that as one of the reasons it must have tasted great.

Like I said, we've had threads where people here literally believe Coke tastes different bought from different places, the same with other GLOBAL brands! I am not attacking you but those people.

 

[Zolf]

We have a TJ's in Orange and I don't think there's a Whole Foods anywhere nearby. Though a few miles away there was a Sprout's/Henry's if that's a suitable replacement.

I was gonna say the same thing but I live in south county. There are Trader Joe's all over and they were here before Whole Foods. Stater Bros is the best though 'cause I'm a cheap bastard.

 

[Trojita]

We have a TJ's in Orange and I don't think there's a Whole Foods anywhere nearby. Though a few miles away there was a Sprout's/Henry's if that's a suitable replacement.



I don't think the market is healthy enough in most places to sustain certain means like wagyu/kobe/kurobuta. Would probably go on clearance before anyone actually bought it tbh.

I went to a Marukai a while back and saw some gorgeous kobe shortribs for $49.99/lb. They sold it in pretty small packages and in limited quantities, but those kinds of premium meats are just... insane. Can't imagine seeing those prices in many other markets.

*similar item, not the same one

Dat marbling.

 

[ChrisD]

I love the cheap Granny Smith's from our local Kroger, so I can't help but wonder what these other apples would taste like. Like heaven, or a disappointment since I actually like the "trash"?

 

[Brakke]

Biggest events for grocery sales in LA: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Super Bowl, Oscar De La Hoya fights.

 

[EASTC0AST_GH05T]

You live in California OP? if so try out Trader Joes, your welcome. My area is not necessarily rich and Trader Joes has some of the best organic foods I have ever had.

 

[dity]

Sometimes I get the feeling that I've been spoiled by cheap food and wouldn't be able to appreciate the expensive stuff if it was shoved into my mouth anyway.

Although the few times I do go to a local fresh food grocer to get fruits and veggies, woo-wee it makes the stuff from Coles look like crud. Too bad it's so expensive and can't really afford anything else in there.

 

[rykomatsu]

You live in California OP? if so try out Trader Joes, your welcome. My area is not necessarily rich and Trader Joes has some of the best organic foods I have ever had.

Organic foods don't improve over non-organic on taste and quality. Just wash well and you really can't tell a difference. Not necessarily worth the price difference imho...

 

[Makai]

Are we gonna rank the grocery chains?

Whole Foods
Harris Teeter
Target
Lowes Foods
Wal-Mart
Food Lion
Bi-Lo
Aldi

Recently switched from Bi-Lo to Harris Teeter. Way better selection of food. These are driving me wild:

 

[Kieli]

Mods plz tag him with "just one apple almost brought me to tears" I'm dying over here

It's late at night and I'm currently stressed out over midterms.

But yeah, this sent me over the edge. Couldn't breathe due to the laughter.

 

[half a moon]

My family shopped at save a lot when I lived with them. It was a treat going to my grandmas for higher quality bi-lo.

 

[Baldwin_the_First]

I'm not seeing what's so objectionable about this. I've cried tears of joy over many of the finer things in life, including food; homemade lasagna with spinach and mushrooms made me happy to be a human being.

I could totally see the crispy crunch of a delectable premium apple bringing a grown man to tears. Especially if it's the first time he's tasted such a thing.

Imagine being blind from birth and then seeing for the first time in your life. Would you not cry? Learn to live a little, people.

Says Brainchild.

I once cried when my brother and I got a video game console for christmas, it's the same, right?

 

[zeopower6]

Organic foods don't improve over non-organic on taste and quality. Just wash well and you really can't tell a difference. Not necessarily worth the price difference imho...

Yeah sometimes the organic versions are like 4x the price. Though often a lot of products at Trader Joe's (aside from the produce) are organic-only anyway within their own brand.

 

[besada]

Apparently I need to taste these expensive apples.

This was a SweeTango, which is a Minnesota hybrid of a Honeycrisp and a Zestar. They're only available for a couple of months a year.

I've had Honeycrisps (I pick up new strains every time I see one) but this was better. Juicier and with a less mealy flesh. I don't really want to pay four bucks for an apple, but at least it tasted like a four buck apple.

As an old dude, I'm sort of amazed at all the varieties. When I was a kid we had Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, and Granny Smith's. Now there's Envy, Jazz, Pink Ladies, SweeTango, Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, Braeburn, Cameo, etc.

 

[Pryce]

I feel like a good way to tell how high income/low income a store is, look at the apples. The lower income store will have Gala, Red Delicious, and Granny Smith. Maybe a Golden Delicious.

The high class ones? Throw in some Honeycrisps, Pink Ladies, Ambrosia, Braeburn, Jazz, Sweet Tango's, Fuji's. Don't forget that there's also a large and small variety on those as well.

 

[pharmx]

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but all it made me do was make me cry.

Oh, and to whomever was saying Walmart produce was subpar...I dunno, my experience so far has been Walmart having equivalent if not superior produce. YMMV of course


edit: I want to add that I felt the same way as OP when I first tried a good Ambrosia apple. It was heavenly.

 

[RibMan]

It's been covered already, but yep, there is a noticeable difference in taste (and pricing) of food in middle-to-upper class areas and lower-to-middle class areas.

Here's a plot twist: I've found that the above is almost always exclusive to developed countries. In underdeveloped countries, the produce in lower class areas tastes significantly better than the produce in upper class areas. Why? Because most stores in upper class areas cater to expats, so they erroneously invest in produce that looks and tastes "American", which 99% of the time means they buy stuff that has gone through a lot of chemical treatment. In contrast, the stores in lower class areas tend to sell produce that has literally been delivered straight from the farm, because the store owners simply can't afford to chemically treat the stuff.

In other words, most Americans can afford significantly better tasting food by not living in America. It's a little sad when you look at it that way, especially if you're the kind of person who can derive happiness from better tasting produce.

 

[zeopower6]

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but all it made me do was make me cry.

Oh, and to whomever was saying Walmart produce was subpar...I dunno, my experience so far has been Walmart having equivalent if not superior produce. YMMV of course

It's usually lacking around here. In quality and in quantity. Sometimes there just isn't much there. The deli/bakery areas are all fine though, but fresh produce seems to be a weak spot with these Wal-Marts. All the ones near me also seem to be around at least 3-4 supermarkets as well, so I don't think that helps either.

 

[Jintor]

all ya'll mocking the OP: surely you've known the difference between an 'apple' and a honest to god crispy, perfect, deliciously sweet apple

ain't nothing to sneeze at.

I live in a small town in japan so our vegetables are great, but inexplicably most of the fruit is kinda not to my taste except the grapes when they're back in season and the (thankfully year-round) avocados.

 

[Syriel]

So after my shopping and dining experience, I have to wonder...are grocery stores in rich neighborhoods all like this? Is everyone else getting the short end of the stick?

I'm hoping there are some wealthy GAFers that were at some point poor/middle income to illustrate the contrast...if it exists that is.

You need to research the term "food desert."

It's a thing. Poor neighborhoods do get poorer choices.

 

[zeopower6]

all ya'll mocking the OP: surely you've known the difference between an 'apple' and a honest to god crispy, perfect, deliciously sweet apple

ain't nothing to sneeze at.

I live in a small town in japan so our vegetables are great, but inexplicably most of the fruit is kinda not to my taste except the grapes when they're back in season and the (thankfully year-round) avocados.

Fruit in Japan D: Is it ever 'affordable'? Whenever I hear about fruit prices in Japan, I shudder a bit.

 

[HeelPower]

*similar item, not the same one

 

[way more]

A food desert.

What is a food desert?

• 1. They qualify as "low-income communities", based on having: a) a poverty rate of 20 percent or greater, OR b) a median family income at or below 80 percent of the area median family income; AND
  
• 2. They qualify as "low-access communities", based on the determination that at least 500 persons and/or at least 33% of the census tract's population live more than one mile from a supermarket or large grocery store (10 miles, in the case of non-metropolitan census tracts).

• '

https://apps.ams.usda.gov/fooddeserts/fooddeserts.aspx

Also click the link to find out if you live in a food desert.



The people upset that you can't get waygu and tobiko at their grocer should actually examine the issue.

 

[brainchild]

Says Brainchild.

I once cried when my brother and I got a video game console for christmas, it's the same, right?

I'd say it's fairly analogous, yeah.

 

[hurricanes]

Yes. And so does the price.

 

[Korey]

ahahaha nice label warning. that product is definitely not safe. Is that real?

Yep:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/foods-la-explains-asparagus-water-812921

 

[milanbaros]

In the UK the chain of supermarket found in the area will vary based on income. However, the even richer neighbourhoods woodnt shop at a supermarket and instead use butchers, grocers etc. That often goes for the poor inner city neighbourhoods as well, because only the ethnic butchers etc. will stock the type of food they want.

High to low:

Waitrose/M&S
Sainsburys/Tesco/Asda/Morrissons
Aldi/lidl
Iceland

 

[Jintor]

Fruit in Japan D: Is it ever 'affordable'? Whenever I hear about fruit prices in Japan, I shudder a bit.

like $8 for a bag of 5 apples (or 10 if I shop at the whole foods place that technically provide for restaurants). It's not unaffordable, but it's definitely not at the scale back home where I could get a box of mandies for like $10. I make do with bananas and avocados, and the occasional rare fruit if it's in season.

 

[TAJ]

I lived in a food desert when I was a kid and it was a nice town except for the low-income apartments I lived in, and in one of the yellow zones on that map. They got a grocery store years after I left, but it got bought out by another chain (Haggen) recently and the Haggen closed most of their stores, including that one.