High prices in grocery (Tampa: 2015, buy, live)

[Logane]

I visited Tampa in March, June and Sept 2015 in reconnaissance trips for potential move to the area from Maryland. I went to a few Publix and asian supermarkets such as MD Oriental looking for prices and variety of products. What struck me as strange was that there was little seafood items compared to the Baltimore area where I live and Houston where I visited often. For fish, there was salmon imported from other states or countries, tuna imported, etc. Every store I went to carried pompano, so I guess it's the local caught fish. Prices were high for a state surrounded by sea and ocean. No significant shellfish; imported shrimp, clams, etc.

Fruits were similarly disappointing. Lots of apples, pears, etc. imported from other states. Oranges were few and of poor quality, and looked like the type from California. I thought FL is famous for its citrus? Tropical fruits like sapote, jack fruit, star apple, etc. were also hard to find and of poor quality. I realize that they could be out of season. In Maryland and certainly Houston, tropical fruits can be easily found, fresh seafood too especially Houston.

Meat seemed to be high priced too.

I truly don't understand. Can somebody explain the high prices, lack of seafood and fruits?

[The Chap]

Well, you're not going to find salmon indigenous to Florida. Maybe try Alaska on that one.

As far as produce, strawberries, blueberries, corn, and tomatoes are in season. Local citrus fruits are in season moreso during the winter months.

[ilikepizza]

Publix is more expensive than other chains. Try Aldi, they have a great produce selection as well as other specialties.

[MortonR]

Publix is the most expensive grocery chain in the area. They are notorious for doing the "bait and switch" with things like buy one/get one free, then pricing other items at outrageous amounts. $2.00 for a box of Cheezits, $7.00 for a 12 pack of Coke, if you get the idea.

That being said, if you want to have one of the best grocery shopping experiences in the area at a chain, they're the place. You're just going to have to pay for that privilege.

Much of what gets farmed or fished here gets shipped out. With the exception of some local crops such as strawberries, blueberries or tomatoes, everything goes out of state as it brings higher prices there. A lot of our produce originates from outside the country from places like Mexico and South America.

Salmon and tuna are no more local to Tampa than they are to Maryland. Grouper, pompano and other local fish can be found if you look. There is an excellent farmer's market (Sanwa) on Hillsborough Avenue that has an unbelievable array of produce and meat.

Oranges are very seasonal. If you're not here when they are coming in, you won't see them (locals ones, that is.) And, our citrus crops are declining significantly due to disease, which doesn't help when it comes to availability.

RM

[engineman]

Winn Dixie is cheaper than Publix.

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by engineman

Winn Dixie is cheaper than Publix.

Everyone is cheaper than Publix with maybe the exception of Whole (Paycheck) Foods if you have one nearby.

RM

[LKJ1988]

Originally Posted by Logane

I visited Tampa in March, June and Sept 2015 in reconnaissance trips for potential move to the area from Maryland. I went to a few Publix and asian supermarkets such as MD Oriental looking for prices and variety of products. What struck me as strange was that there was little seafood items compared to the Baltimore area where I live and Houston where I visited often. For fish, there was salmon imported from other states or countries, tuna imported, etc. Every store I went to carried pompano, so I guess it's the local caught fish. Prices were high for a state surrounded by sea and ocean. No significant shellfish; imported shrimp, clams, etc.

Fruits were similarly disappointing. Lots of apples, pears, etc. imported from other states. Oranges were few and of poor quality, and looked like the type from California. I thought FL is famous for its citrus? Tropical fruits like sapote, jack fruit, star apple, etc. were also hard to find and of poor quality. I realize that they could be out of season. In Maryland and certainly Houston, tropical fruits can be easily found, fresh seafood too especially Houston.

Meat seemed to be high priced too.

I truly don't understand. Can somebody explain the high prices, lack of seafood and fruits?

Citrus is done in FL thanks to the greening sickness. It's killing every tree in the state one by one.

[Logane]

I realize that tuna and salmon are not local to Florida, but I can find them anywhere in the US, even landlocked states like Colorado. I was expecting a wide variety freshly caught fish, but all I saw was pompano and grouper, and not that fresh either by the look in their cloudy eyes. Of course, there were some other varieties that I couldn't remember but nothing noticeable.

Probably, Morton explains it. Thanks. Most of your produce has been exported, I got that. I was expecting rows upon rows of tropical, exotic fruits and all I saw were apples and pears from somewhere else. I was scratching my head... WTH?

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Logane

I realize that tuna and salmon are not local to Florida, but I can find them anywhere in the US, even landlocked states like Colorado. I was expecting a wide variety freshly caught fish, but all I saw was pompano and grouper, and not that fresh either by the look in their cloudy eyes. Of course, there were some other varieties that I couldn't remember but nothing noticeable.

Probably, Morton explains it. Thanks. Most of your produce has been exported, I got that. I was expecting rows upon rows of tropical, exotic fruits and all I saw were apples and pears from somewhere else. I was scratching my head... WTH?

You find more tropical fruits at Latin and other ethnic markets. Mainstream grocery stores cater to the general public. Also, you find better seafood at fish markets. But it isn't cheap. The days of cheap local fish are over sad to say.

[retiredcop111]

I like the Publix sandwiches. They blow away Subway. I do agree Publix is more expensive. I get most of my stuff from Sams, Walmart and Target.