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Traitor Joe's?

I like the idea of Trader Joe's stores and have patronized one in Northville a few times, but after shopping there today I don't think I'll be visiting much anymore. Here's the problem--outside of wines--no local products. How hard is it to stock MICHIGAN apples in October? Better yet how hard is it to stock local apple cider? There was no local produce, no local meat, no local dairy, nothing except the wine. I'm trying to make this a blog with as few F-bombs as possible, but this is testing my limits. If they don't want to support local/regional farmers then I don't really want to support them. They are sending money outside of a state that badly needs income. What about you? Do you even care that you eat South African oranges, Chilean apples, and New Zealand lamb?
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Anonymous said…
I was struck by that at first but you have to get out of the catch all grocery store mode of Farmer Jacks to appreciate this store. We shop at a local fruit market, a local health food store, a local grocery store, and Trader Joes. Trader Joes does a good job of providing good quality healthy food at a fair price. They can do this because they aren't all things to all people. Their stores are small and a good quick shopping trip mid week for us.
November 7, 2007 at 12:36 PM
Anonymous said…
There... now I posted to your blog. Am I cool yet?
November 7, 2007 at 12:37 PM
Scot said…
You're moving in the right direction. I'm not complaining that Trader Joe's isn't Kroger or Meijer or MegaMart, my complaint is that they don't offer locally grown food. Yes, they do offer high quality organic and conventional choices, but Michigan's second biggest industry is agriculture. Why can't they contract with local farmers and/or their distributors to save some food miles? Honestly, how hard can it be to offer Michigan apples in the fall and cherries in the spring, blueberries in the summer, etc.?
November 7, 2007 at 7:34 PM
Anarchrist said…
You shop at a niche store that specializes in importing offbeat items and then complain that there are no local items on the shelves. Doesn't sound like a reasonable complaint. Honestly, how hard can it be to buy Michigan apples in the Fall and cherries in the Spring at the tens of thousands of grocery stores, fruit markets, farmers markets, roadside stands, apple orchards, etc. that stock them?
December 9, 2007 at 1:00 AM
Scot said…
Well, anarchrist, I didn't realize apples were "offbeat items". And of the many stores available, surprisingly it is much easier to buy Washington apples than Michigan apples. If I were looking for a rare species of morrel (how is that spelled?) found only in Michigan, then OK, perhaps a national chain wouldn't have them, but a common product such as an apple should be found. And it would make more economic sense (perhaps not from the GIANT CHAIN'S perspective)but from a local perspective to stock local products. Why is wanting a store that is located in my state to sell a product produced by my state such an unreasonable request? I think you're wrong, but I do appreciate the comment. Really, I do.
December 31, 2007 at 10:45 PM
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