On Shopping for Groceries by Jordon Torrealba



We went shopping for food items today, myself, another Canadian student and two from Iceland. While we were there I found my faviourite drink; kefir, even better because it’s difficult to find the effervescent/fermented type in Canada... usually its just regular yogurt. And it was insanely inexpensive in comparison, approximately $3/L instead of ~$8/L for the good stuff. 

I made some pasta with a tomato and mushroom sauce. I made a table of some of the ingredients I used and any differences of note. All prices are shown in CAD. Considered as purchased from Supermarket chains, not local producers, large-scale agriculture does not exist on Faroe Islands for many of the products listed.


Food (Faroese)
Price in Canada (PEI)
Price in Faroe Islands (Torshavn) 
Country of Origin (Canada)
Country of Origin (Faroe Islands)
Notes
Garlic (Hvidløg)
$3.50/100g
$1.70/100g
California (USA)
Spain
Cheaper garlic can certainly be found in Canada but is of lower quality, grown in China. The garlic purchased in Faroe Islands was Spanish and of a high quality, though more rough/brusied spots were found. In Canada, garlic can be pruchased loose or in packages of three, only the 3-pack was available at this shop. 
Mushroom (Champignon)
$1.10/100g
$2.30/100g
Canada
Denmark
The mushrooms purchased from the Faroe Islands had been frozen. I’m not sure if it was typical of their ocean voyage or an uncommon event. 
Tomato Puree
(Tomatir)
$1.50/1L
$7/1L
Canada
Italy
Unfair comparison, bought San Marzano tomato puree in Faroe Islands, but usually buy lame tomatoes in Canada – the San Marzanos are still cheaper... But usually come in a can in Canada.
Penne (Penne Rigate)
$0.40/100g
(approx.)
$1.70/100g
Canada
(Not sure)
Holland
I guess they just call it what the italians do. Pasta is pasta. I think I might have the wrong numbers for this one… why is the pasta so much more expensive? Usually comes in acardboard box in Canada but was all plastic bags in Faroe Islands.
Bananas (Bananer)
$0.89/100g
$0.71/each
C. America
C. America
Bananas are a bit more expensive in Prince Edward island with the average banana coming in around 175g. Quality is about the same as the origin is the same and the shipping methods are the same… Producers have dialled the shipping of bananas, there is no question. 

Interesting that the price of goods is not so much more here than on Prince Edward Island, though it is connected via a bridge to the mainland. 

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