Reviresco - To Grow Young Again: You in Da Bahamas Now Baby

While en route from Fort Lauderdale to Staniel Cay during my brief visit home, I had 15 minutes to shop for "meat". Fifteen pounds later and a bag of frozen veggies to keep all cool in my trusty Coleman cooler bag, we were set. Judging by the amount of extra weight coming on board our small charter plane to Staniel, I was not the only one doing her groceries before entering Bahamas.

Finding "clean" meat is not easy, especially on the smaller islands. Often meats are repackaged on store counters or cut by the local vendor before repackaging. We've witnessed this practice. Good fresh produce is not easy to come by either and you need to shop often to find. Many visitors to Bahamas expect to gorge themselves on tropical fruit. Sadly, most of the islands are arid and nothing of substance grows. The majority of pineapples, mangos and all citrus fruit come from Florida or California and are shipped by a mail boat from Nassau, usually weekly. And, you pay handsomely for each item. I guess that's the price of living in paradise.

The best time to go grocery shopping, then, is the day the mail boat arrives. Everyone keeps a close lookout, as if waiting for the second coming. Your day revolves around your trip to the store. If you time it right, you can be in the store as the items are being unpacked in front of you, so you get your pick of the produce. Pineapple and mango go real fast.

Shopping for non-perishables is interesting too. If you see an item that’s close to what you’d pay at home, inspect closely for the expiry date. Chances are the item has long expired. Most times, you can expect to pay 2-3 times more than what you’d pay for most essentials (lettuce, cereal, flour, sugar, chips, chocolate and Donna’s skittles), and a whole lot more for other items. A stick of deodorant can cost upward of $10!

What's interesting is that in Canada, you have unlimited choices. You shop where you can find the best deal or your favorite items. Customer loyality can be fickle. In Bahamas, your choices are limited. You make decisions about where you shop based on the reputation of the store, and if you stay long enough in one area, the relationship that you develop with the vendor. Customer loyality is crucial to their survival. You don't necessarily get any bargains, but you trust what you're getting. And, you can order ahead special items that aren't normally carried by the store.

Produce and prices aside, grocery shopping is really part of the adventure. You chat with the locals about goings-on, pick up the local paper, and meet fellow travellers from around the world who have a story to tell. You don't curse the line-up ahead, you simply find a chair, patiently wait your turn and enjoy the experience.