Article Re Rising Food Costs In Anchorage (Kodiak, Bethel: sales, home)

[Alaskapat528]

Anyone moving to Anchorage and who is curious about food prices, here is an article that was in the daily paper today (4/29/08). Read it and weep.

Anchorage grocery costs soar: Anchorage | adn.com

[Barkingowl]

That was a real eye opener.

Especially this...

Cathy Squartsoff in Port Lions, on Kodiak Island, said she and her husband are taking the ferry up to Anchorage to load up on groceries for their lodge. The cost of putting three vehicles on a ferry and shopping at Sam's Club and Costco is cheaper than buying groceries in Kodiak, she said. "It is just more expensive," she said of the island prices.

[cobolt]

Originally Posted by Barkingowl

That was a real eye opener.

Especially this...

This isn't anything new. Lots of people in more remote areas or outside of "the city" ferry or fly their groceries in. I know a guy who owns the lodge out at Pybus Bay and he does his shopping at Costco in JNU. Some people in SKG do major shopping in JNU or Whitehorse. There will just be more of it going on, but you wonder with the fuel prices increasing, when it no longer becomes economically feasible.

[akck]

Originally Posted by cobolt

This isn't anything new. Lots of people in more remote areas or outside of "the city" ferry or fly their groceries in. I know a guy who owns the lodge out at Pybus Bay and he does his shopping at Costco in JNU. Some people in SKG do major shopping in JNU or Whitehorse. There will just be more of it going on, but you wonder with the fuel prices increasing, when it no longer becomes economically feasible.

We talked to someone from Sitka who did this. She said the cost of plane tickets to Seattle covered the ferry plus a good portion of what they bought. I'd guess that at least 1/3 of Costco sales in Juneau are either shipped out or bought by people living in outlying areas.

[Barkingowl]

Originally Posted by cobolt

This isn't anything new. Lots of people in more remote areas or outside of "the city" ferry or fly their groceries in.

Well its new to me. It really hits home because it makes you really think about how hard a challenge it is to live in the bush. For me the nearest grocery store is 2 miles from my house. There are probably 10 grocery stores in a 5 mile radius. I've priced the ferry & the amount needed to use it with a vehicle isn't anything to sneeze at.

[bongo]

My friends out in Bethel tell the story of her $30 watermelon. They have a lot of their food ordered from Seattle & barged up. They used to bring a lot back from Costco in Anchorage but now there are restrictions on weight/numbers.