Brits Explore a CANADIAN Supermarket for the First Time! 🇨🇦 | TORONTO Series

The supermarket vloggers are BACK! And this time, we're checking out Farm Boy in Toronto, Canada!
#FarmBoy #Supermarket #Canada
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[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

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[@TheManuel012009]

Try an Aussie supermarket get some shrimpies for the barbie. 😂

[@terryomalley1974]

@@TheManuel012009 As a Canadian, something tells me it would be pretty thought to find an Aussie supermarket in Toronto, lol. A Greek, Italia, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Halal, Kosher, no problem, however. I also doubt that you could find a Canadian supermarket is Sydney.

[@TheManuel012009]

@@terryomalley1974 it’s a pity but sadly there’s no Canadian supermarkets here. Brazilian American Portuguese specialty stores we have 1 or 2 but not Canadian

[@terryomalley1974]

@@TheManuel012009 I was kidding. I already knew when I asked the question that there wouldn't be any. I was just point out the silliness of thinking that there might possibly be an Australian grocery store here in Canada and thought that by reversing the scenario, you'd appreciate the unlikeliness of such a scenario. Plus, Canucks and Aussies, and Americans, all basically eat the same kinds of food, so all our supermarkets would, therefore, sell similar products. Don't ya think? We for have a fairly large Portuguese community here, especially in Toronto and Montreal, and consequently, numerous Portuguese restaurants and delis.

[@TheManuel012009]

@@terryomalley1974 I hope they both visit Australia early next year. I think the content they can get here would be amazing. But I’m being biased of course. 👍

[@jessical6389]

I am big on lowering the plastic usage and increasing use your own packaging (trying to reduce my own usage of disposable anything), but I also don't judge the things I see in plastic. During a discussion about things like this, I had a disabled friend tell me that stores that sell cut fruit and peeled boiled eggs are helpful to disabled people who, due to medical conditions don't have the motor control in their hands to peel an egg or prepare a pineapple, for example. It made me see the world through a different lense. I try to check my abelism now. No one is perfect, but we can all learn from each other and make the world a better place for everyone.

[@ellenchristian6602]

Lia, when you talk about prices in the Canadian supermarket. You have to remember, when you say you pay 2£ in England for oat milk. You are comparing that to Canadian dollars in Canadian supermarkets. So you are comparing 2£ Oat milk to their $5 oat milk, which converted is $3.40. Yes it’s more expensive but not as expensive as you made it out to be.

[@bobbbxxx]

And those particular oat milks were specialty imported. Two from the UK and one from USA.

[@just_passing_through]

As a Brit myself, I can confirm this is absolutely typical. Travel halfway round the globe and scour supermarkets for only items from the UK. Travel to France and only go to restaurants where you can order beans on toast. 🤣🤣🤣

[@bobbbxxx]

LOL! I wasn't going to say it, but that is soooo true. Brits make a dash for imported supermarket foods from back home and are horrified (and thrilled) to find they are cheaper back home! I'll bet there are ex-pats who have been here for some time who are still convinced a pint of beer costs 50 pee back home! Also comparing temperatures daily and being thrilled when it is colder in Toronto than back home! :D

[@dorothypaul4642]

I thought I was the only one who enjoyed visiting supermarkets when I travel. I've been to Metro in Quebec. Thanks for the entertaining tour of Farm Boy. You always make me laugh with your wit and humor!

[@christianoliver3572]

I always go to supermarkets or open air markets when I travel. It's a good way to get a literal taste of the country you are in. Farmers markets and roadside stands are great as well.

[@msbeaverhausen7226]

I love finding a good supermarket! Farm Boy is a chain that is owned by Sobeys which owns a number of other chains. Another supermarket that is fabulous is Super Store/ Fortinos. Their ready to go meals are fantastic. Pretty much all supermarkets are more expensive in Toronto than anywhere else in Ontario!!

[@rich7447]

Canada love monopolies.

[@deegeef]

The Canadian equivalent of Walmart would be ..... Walmart. Metro is a mainstream Canadian supermarket, similar to Loblaws. Farm Boy is only found in Ontario (so far) and is quite upscale.

[@mileitman]

You just won't find Wal Mart's in city centres, at least in Canada.

[@bobbbxxx]

@@mileitman There are no Walmarts in Manhattan, either. Rents are way too high in these types of cities for massive Walmarts.

[@user-db6pt7vr3l]

There's nothing upscale about Farm Boy in Ontario.

[@jefflake9855]

As another person noted in previous comments it looks like a canadian version of Whole Foods

[@santoshnarayana7879]

Walmart also exists in Canada as does whole foods also

[@NickLea]

To be fair though, those cucumbers were actually organic. In the UK, an organic cucumber is going to be a bit more than 50p - more like a pound (CA$1.70). But even so, still a lot cheaper than the CA$2.99 in that shop

[@bobbbxxx]

A whole long English cucumber at Waitrose is £1.45 ($2.50 Canadian). Cucumbers are just one food item; you have to do a complete shopping to really compare prices.

[@FullOfMalarky]

Farmboy is the GOAT in Ottawa. Especially the newly built ones. The one whole foods here is more expensive than the already expensive groceries

[@vbvermont]

Farm Boy is more expensive than the average grocery store but the quality is higher as well. It's a bit like whole foods.

[@mileitman]

I find it to be like a cross between Whole Foods and Trader Joe's.

[@vbvermont]

@@mileitman I've never been to Trader Joe's but sounds about right.

[@marydavis5234]

Wrong Joel, We do have Yorkshire tea in the US, it is in the international aisles of most grocery stores and btw most sodas have corn syrup in them including diet sodas.

[@mileitman]

Actually corn syrup in Canadian soft drinks is a relatively new phenomenon. Sugar traditionally is Canada is made from Caribbean sugar cane, free trade with the US resulted in that crap being shipped from down there. Also British teas in Canada aren't usually in the intl aisle, just in the tea aisle (most popular black teas are probably Tetley, Yorkshire, Red Rose (formerly a Brooke Bond brand) and Ty-Phoo).

[@AndySaputo]

@@mileitman To correct the correcting Mary, we have Yorkshire tea in our regular tea aisle as well. Not sure where Mary is from, but Yorkshire tea is not considered exotic or international in our supermarkets (Chicago area).

[@mileitman]

@@AndySaputo Thanks for the correcting, correcting!

[@AndySaputo]

@@mileitman *Correcting²

[@robertjameslarsen]

@@AndySaputo agreed, I'm in Utah and I've been buying Yorkshire and PG tips at the local grocery for over 25 years with no need to find the specialty aisle.

[@wynn1111]

I'm obsessed by the name of this grocery store! It looks very similar to a grocery chain here in the South called Lowe's Foods.

[@emmet9040]

Another thing to keep in mind is that in Canada tax is added at checkout, so the prices on the shelf don't include tax. So if you're in Toronto, add like 13% for tax to the price you see displayed.

[@barbarakiewe4917]

Always love a good supermarket vlog.

[@GoWestYoungMan]

The Big 3 supermarket chains are Loblaws, Sobeys, and Metro. They each run a low end chain, No Frills, Price Chopper, and Food Basics respectively. There are niche chains like Farm Boy, Pusateri, Llongos, and from the US there's Whole Foods. There's also T&T which is an Asian supermarket chain. I might have missed some but those are the main chains. Toronto has some Food Halls on top of that. Saks is the most high end one. In Western Canada they have Safeway but that's owned by Sobeys.

[@wjdietrich]

Price Chopper changed to Freshco a long time ago!

[@stevennelson9504]

They do have Walmart in Canada.

[@terryomalley1974]

Farm Boy is a more upscale grocery store. You can get an English cucumber at Walmart in Canada for half that price, at $1.47.

[@mayloo2137]

I'm in Calgary. Here, many stores have a buffet section - Safeway, Co-op, T & T which is an Asian market chain here in the West. Others like Superstore, Sobeys and SaveOn Foods have deli sections with prepared meals.

[@trippyerinsd]

Why do I love these grocery store videos so much? 🤷‍♀️

[@chazamataz323]

Farm Boy is a chain and most commonly likened to Trader Joe’s in the states. While, Metro is like publix. It is certainly boogie compared to others and is extremely popular in Canada. Most of the items you considered expensive were imported. Glad you liked it! #farmboy

[@aq_cbg_spartan2184]

I lived there when I went to school on the island, it uses to be a Sobeys. You gotta check out Nations supermarket on st clair west. Has an arcade , lots of hot food and decent prices

[@kimharding2246]

Cheers from the Jersey Shore! Salt Water Taffy originated in Atlantic City, New Jersey. A man who owned a candy shop on the famous Atlantic City boardwalk wanted to cool a batch of taffy he just made, so he put the trays outside in front of the shop. But the wind blew up and the ocean waves sprayed the candy with salt water. So, therefore, the name. It’s not salty, but very sweet. My favorite flavors are banana, mint or good old vanilla.

[@rushyrulz]

Always wondered where the name came from, good to know!

[@patricebetts6531]

All the flavors are good and the famous James salt water taffy is also sold covered in chocolate yum!!

[@bobbbxxx]

I have friends in the UK who travel to Florida and love salt water taffy. I send it to them.

[@kimharding2246]

@@bobbbxxx It’s good stuff. Love watching it being made as you stroll along the boardwalk. 😁

[@bobbbxxx]

@@kimharding2246 Yes!! Great childhood memories, like candy floss and toffee apples!!

[@danielchapman6032]

"She would eat the soft inside and leave me the hard outside." Sorry Joel you guys are a couple...

[@RicoTravels]

Farm boy is deff a good grocery store! If you want something more basic (cheap) you can try no frills or food basics

[@robertpearson8798]

We bought some Yorkshire Gold recently and quite liked it. Our everyday brand is King Cole Orange Pekoe, an East-Coast brand from Nova Scotia and quite flavourful, available at Sobey’s so probably there also. If I’d been there I’d have told you to look for two quintessential Canadian desserts, butter tarts and Nanaimo bars.

[@treacherousviper]

in the US. we have something called fit, you can use it on fruit to clean it.. like grapes that have that film on it… the stuff is awesome

[@mh.blue_swish25]

Well I am Canadian and I've never heard of the Farm Boy grocery store/supermarket chain before. But from first impressions it looks awesome!. I actually work at a ThriftyFoods store which is a chain here in British Columbia (B.C.). Specifically on Vancouver Island. Other popular store chains here are Quality Foods, SaveOnFoods, Superstore, SafeWay, Red Barn, Whole Foods. Just some I can think of.

[@gordonwallin2368]

Thrifty's is so darn good! There're a half dozen around Vancouver and NorthVan. Good for your comment. Now, if J&L can ever get away from the East and the US, they could try them.eh?

[@lovehandr]

Farm Boy started in Cornwall, Ontario, and then became very popular in Ottawa. There is one in my neighbourhood. About 2 years ago, Farm Boy was bought out by Sobey's with the intent of expanding it at least across Ontario. It is more high end than most supermarkets with an emphasis on fresh foods.

[@lesliefranklin1870]

I'm surprised you didn't encounter the bags of cow's milk. LOL!

[@neitan6891]

5:31 😂 omg, we have Yorkshire and PG Tips in the States (and loads more tea)

[@richardzagozeski892]

In Western Canada, we have Loblaws chain supermarkets & The Real Canadian Superstore (very similar to Walmart but also with a liquor store attached to the inside of the store)

[@cmtaylor531]

In the US the English cucumber is generally overpriced as well but you can buy the non English cucumbers for like 50 cents.

[@mileitman]

In Canada you'll find English cucumbers for under 50p in summer. This time of year they are either expensive hothouse-grown or imported from the States or Mexico.

[@rich7447]

My ex (20 years ago) would no satisfy herself with anything less than English cucumber (or latin loins....she had standards). Luckily I was out when the latin gas man came....and the latin electrician.....framer....concrete guy......getting the pattern?

[@pacmanc8103]

@@rich7447 😂

[@leaflover3497]

That looked like a delicious grocery store.

[@desimonium]

I can tell you right now, Farm Boy's got the best Kombucha ever!

[@donaldcormier4691]

We don't have those farm boy stores down here in Halifax Nova Scotia but from what I understand the easiest way to describe farm boy would be Toronto/Ontario version of wholefoods. Your basically right it's a bushy shop.

[@wjdietrich]

Toronto/Ontario version of Wholefoods would be.......Wholefoods,ya we have them - so probably why a Canadian company started Farmboy as competition!

[@jessicajanowiak4199]

Oatly is also my favorite oat milk! I first had it in Sweden, and now I’m obsessed! Wish it was cheaper here in the US

[@bkm2797]

Pricing reminds me of where I live San Francisco, really depressing when you think about it. Maybe Farm Boy is there version of Whole Foods.

[@bobbbxxx]

It is

[@crinkle2649]

I watched a video the other day talking about what was actually in the non dairy milks. If you watched it you would never use Oatly it again.

[@magoogies91]

We do actually have Yorkshire tea in some international sections in stores.

[@ellens2896]

You said it when you first walked Bougie...vegetables are probably considered organic..go to a no frills and fresco find English cukes for 50p

[@aliciamagliocco2487]

Farm boy is only around some places in Ontario and yes they’re more expensive. There are other grocers that are a better deal.

[@marydavis5234]

lol the bigger size potato chip bags are for Parties, not for one person.

[@Hermit4321]

I normally eat them my self. sad face

[@80sGamerLady]

Reminds me of Whole Foods in the states (Whole Paycheck) 😉

[@sheteg1]

English cucumber at no frills is .99 cents. Canadian bacon is actually called Peameal bacon which is pork loin covered by cornmeal. You can’t compare prices when you are going to an overpriced grocery store. Sorry guys.

[@emerald637]

Trader Joe's has sold vegetable wash for decades. I use it on all fruit & veggies regardless of whether they are organic or not, especially if they are not.

[@barbarakiewe4917]

Canadian equivalent to Wal Mart used to be Canadian Tire. Now they have Wal Mart as well.

[@mh.blue_swish25]

Well actually Canada has both Canadian Tire and Walmart. I would say Canadian Tire is more of a mix between Walmart and Target.

[@barbarakiewe4917]

@@mh.blue_swish25 "Well actually Canada has both" That's what "as well" means.

[@mileitman]

Under "used to be" I'd file Zellers, Woolco and Woolworth's

[@wjdietrich]

Walmart has been in Canada for decades - 30 years?

[@mh.blue_swish25]

#BarbaraKiewe Ah huh yes indeed I see your point. Oh well a tiny error. There's more important things in life than nit-picking someone else's grammar. I was only giving some clarification from another perspective. But you did read my comment so I'm assuming that you would've understood that already. Have a great day😊👍.

[@blondy89]

Reminds me of Fresh Market in New England

[@alisonmarusak3137]

We do have Yorkshire Tea in the US! I love it!!! You can basically only get the red box or the yorkshire gold though. But it's my favorite tea! 😊

[@patricebetts6531]

I am hooked on Barry's tea in the green box. The tea bags are very big compared to most

[@alisonmarusak3137]

@@patricebetts6531 ohh I'll have to give it a try!!

[@bobbbxxx]

@@patricebetts6531 I LOVE Barry's tea (and other Irish teas for that matter). The thing about tea as far as I can see is the strength depends on how much tea is in the bag, and Barry's has a lot of tea in the bag!

[@patricebetts6531]

@@bobbbxxx I agree! I’m drinking a cuppa as I write this!

[@bobbbxxx]

To me FreshBoy is kind of a Canadian version of Farm Boy; they import a lot of specialty items, and the stores are only in Ontario. At 4:17 Minor Figure Oat Milk is British; you'll have to expect it will cost more than back home because it is a specialty import across the sea. When I go to the North American food section in Harvey Nics, I expect I will pay more for Aunt Jemima pancake mix or maple syrup than I do at home. If you want cheaper oat milk, go to a regular supermarket like FreshCo or Metro or Loblaws and buy the Canadian ones. Silk Oat Milk or Earth's Own at Loblaw's is $3.49 for 1.75 litres, which is just over 2 quid. Loblaw's is to me a little more upmarket than Metro. Maybe more like Waitrose compared to Tesco. At 4:37 Elmhurst Oat Milk is imported as well, from the USA. Similarly, Yorkshire Tea is a British tea that is specialty imported across the ocean. $7.99 (£5) is more than it is in Britain, but I buy it in Canada because I like it. Tetley and PG Tips are available widely at most big supermarkets in Toronto, but tea is by and large less popular than coffee here. I know you two are concerned about a healthy planet, so it is cheaper, and better for the planet for us to buy local goods than specialty items flown all over the planet. I try and buy local wherever I can, but if I want something I just get it. 😉 An internet search for Walmart will find you locations all over Ontario. They don't do downtown ones (rent is expensive downtown for huge spaces) but there is a Walmart on Dufferin St that is easy to get to by transit. Asda is owned by Walmart, but it is a very different type of store in North America. Come back again, in the summertime! Thank you for taking your time and visiting for a number of days. So many KZbin bloggers fly in from the US or parts of Canada and do "4 hours in Toronto", or "1 Day in Toronto", and it tells us nothing about a city! 😊

[@robutubemacarthur]

Great video. One thing with Canada is it’s size just think of how many countries you would cross in the same distance in Europe. Then think of how different each country is. We have some things Nation wide ( Tim’s ) and some very special local things. Come to Nova Scotia.

[@MrGlenspace]

You should see stew Leonard’s in the northeast of America. The worlds largest dairy supermarket. They have so much food of all variety’s too. There is one in Connecticut, NY and Paramus NJ.

[@MrGlenspace]

Another really good one in the northeast U.S. is wegmans and Italian gourmet supermarket uncle Giuseppe’s.

[@americathebeautifulforever9746]

@@MrGlenspace Love Wegmans but very expensive.

[@LarryHatch]

Asking for Canadian Bacon in Canada is liking going to Beijing and asking for Chinese food. Actually, what Americans call Canadian Bacon is almost identical to what Canadians sell as Virginia Ham in some forms. (Not all forms, lest the comments get ugly).

[@wjdietrich]

It's just called back bacon or" Pea meal TM" bacon if it's rimmed with the yellow grain

[@crinkle2649]

That looks like Fresh Thyme in the states.

[@mdsh00]

I've seen Yorkshire Tea and other UK imports at Whole Foods here in the US.

[@alyssaalderson2386]

Publix also has Yorkshire, and PG Tips! My Publix has a good selection of squash as well!

[@Desert_Dreamin024]

@@alyssaalderson2386 Love Publix, mine here in Nc has a pretty large British/ international section. Pretty sure I clean them out of their Terry’s chocolate orange regularly 😂

[@tiffinyamira137]

You guys should check out Trader Joe's while in the U.S.

[@wildshadowstar]

The English cucumber is more expensive than the non English ones. Plus, they’re out of season at the moment, otherwise the non English cucumbers can be purchased for around 50 cents in the US.

[@AspenCarruthers]

I recently moved to Canada from the UK and have been searching for good barista milk, I hadn’t tried farm boy, there are a tone of supermarkets here but omfg I’m so happy there’s oatly, don’t care about the price, literally heading there tomorrow! Thanks guys!!

[@rayabhik]

Try Earth's Own Barista Oat Milk for coffee. We use that and it foams pretty well, and every once in a while they're on sale at Metro. The Earth's Own regular Oat Milk is more cost-effective for regular drinking.

[@bobbbxxx]

@@rayabhik Definitely cheaper than Oatly.

[@samanthanormandin1259]

Where have you gotten the idea that people in Canada don't eat salads or vegetables?! It's so odd to me that you've gotten that impression when travelling (Europe, East Asia, USA) I have a much harder time finding vegetable meals than I ever do almost anywhere in Canada!

[@bobbbxxx]

I buy ingredients and make a salad at home. Wash all the veggies/lettuce and prepare it. Buying a pre-made salad in a plastic clamshell is fine for when you are travelling, but kind of lazy when you live here!

[@jonathanr8113]

I thought HEB was the best supermarket yall have been to!!?

[@maggiereman]

They should also open a,"Farm Girl" Supermarket. 😉

[@billcole3669]

Were you taking in to account exchange rate? 1 GBP = 1.4935 CAD

[@donaldcormier4691]

From what I heard from a couple I follow that moved to Canada from the UK is that the usual tea you guys get everywhere over there is called orange pekoe tea over here.

[@mileitman]

I believe that Tetley and PG Tips are examples of orange pekoe tea.

[@kristineandersen6762]

Oatly Barista costs like 3£ here in Norway.

[@Barbwheel]

Farm Boy is relatively new to Toronto. I had only seen them in Ottawa (nation’s capital) before. Any grocery store in downtown Toronto will be more expensive due to high rent. All those new condo owners don’t have much choice in local shopping and they have to pay the price. I do like Farm Boys selection of ready made meals as a treat.

[@MichelleSinTO]

We have a lot of options in Toronto, including less expensive options like Food Basics, but I think the best options price-wise are the little markets (ie, grocers in Chinatown), farmer’s markets that set up a few days a week, plus St Lawrence market, of course. Farm Boy is the Sobey’s brand equivalent of Whole Foods. Also have tonnes of Longos, Sobey’s, Metro, Loblaws, Superstores, Rabba’s, one off green grocers or food specific shops. I think the perception of not many options comes from many of the downtown options being in the underground path or blend in with the condo building they are in. That particular Farm Boy is directly on the water, surrounded by condos that go for literally 2 to 3.5 million, in a high tourist area. Super expensive area. Individual prices…that $12.99 salad is comparable to getting a similar salad in a restaurant. You’re paying for the variety of ingredients in it, the labour to produce it, plus convenience. It’s easy to eat healthy at a low price, if you buy your produce at a farmer’s market and make it yourself, for example. The cucumber was organic, which is always more expensive. And pricey brand store.

[@bobbbxxx]

I think Farm Boy has standardised pricing, no matter where in Ontario is the store. The prices quoted online seem to be the same for all stores.

[@vincegalloro920]

I live in Toronto and I have never heard of this supermarket

[@kayflip2233]

They have Walmart in Canada.

[@Fiery.Dragon]

I have never seen a $3 cucumber here in Toronto, usually the veg store sells them 2 for $1 to 2 for $1.25 depending on how fresh they are, though the best ones can go as high as a dollar each. At the supermarket, though, I've paid as much as $1.29.....

[@Fiery.Dragon]

Wow... after seeing the prices further around the store -- I really don't want to go to Farm Boy unless I need something * really * special that only they sell - there's no point paying an extra $50 for each grocery run, just because...

[@rubyholder8446]

You can get Yorkshire tea in the US.

[@tibbytx1]

Their posts are all over the place.

[@michaeljohn7405]

In the uk they have isoglucose. It’s the same

[@crystalstevens4638]

Some of those price! Jeesh!

[@bobbbxxx]

Note, the Canadian dollar is worth less than the US, and much less than the British Pound, so you can't compare prices in Canadian dollars directly to US dollars.

[@jonadabtheunsightly]

That's a fairly posh/upscale grocery, hence the premium prices. Trust me, they aren't all that expensive. Prices in Canada are a bit high compared to America, but they're not consistently THAT high. If you want something more ordinary in Ontario, check out a Freshmart or something. OTOH, a normal grocery or especially a discount grocery might not necessarily have all those weird "milk but not made out of milk" products. The people who buy that stuff, tend to have more money than average (unless they have a legit allergy or other food sensitivity disorder, but that's nowhere near common enough to support the level of stock you're seeing in that store; and people who are merely a bit lactose intollerant, can just take the lactase pills before meals; I think you can get them at WalMart in bottles of a thousand).

[@bobbbxxx]

I was shocked that most Almond Milk is only 2% almonds. I looked at the label ingredients and was surprised what it was made of. I'm not lactose intolerant so I prefer real milk.

[@jonadabtheunsightly]

@@bobbbxxx I've never actually seen almond milk. (I live in a city of ten thousand people in central Ohio, and I buy groceries mostly at Sav-A-Lot...)

[@bobbbxxx]

@@jonadabtheunsightly I suppose if I were lactose intolerant I be interested in it but otherwise I wouldn't ever drink it.

[@RichardM.Barker]

I live and grew up in Toronto, and honestly, I’ve never heard of Farmboy Supermarket. Metro, Loblaws, FreshCo, No Frills, Sobey’s…Those are some of the ones I know.

[@rich7447]

I have never felt so bad for an individual. Fly, be free.

[@RichardM.Barker]

@@rich7447 You’ve never felt so bad for an individual, because I’ve never heard of Farmboy? I don’t need you to feel sorry for me. I’m doing just fine, thanks.

[@rich7447]

@@RichardM.Barker Not because you haven't heard of Farmboy, but because you grew up in Toronto. Four years in that city was more than enough for me.

[@bobbbxxx]

@@rich7447 Were those 4 years you lived there also enough for Torontonians? 😆

[@rich7447]

@@bobbbxxx Given how unfriendly Torontonians are it probably was.

[@bencoatesworth7731]

Why cant we take a leaf out of Canadas book. Love how u walk in to a load of fruit an veg looks so nice and especially with 99.99% of it plastic free or even no packaging. Apart from the pineapple that is just ridiculous like buy it and cut the skin off. I walk into my local supermarket and faced with horrible looking old ish fruit an veg all wrapped in plastic. Like it puts me off buying fruit an veg.

[@TheSUPERHAPPY1]

I've lived in Canada my whole life, I have never heard of this place or Metro

[@bobbbxxx]

Are you in Western Canada or the Maritimes? Metro is Quebec and Ontario, and Farm Boy is Ontario only. We don't have Safeway here in Ontario like they do in Western Canada.

[@dr.westwood]

So much produce in America is very expensive. Eating healthy is ridiculously expensive. Lia hit the nail on the head with that. There has been a recent movement since the panny-d to encourage people to grow their own produce. Gardening has really ticked up the last two years.

[@americathebeautifulforever9746]

Produce is super cheap in my state at the farmers markets. Less than half the price of the food stores. 5 lemons for $1, 3 avocados for a $1, mushrooms $1 a lb, and so on.

[@GratefulEdge]

Agreed ... I get organic to try to minimize exposure to pesticides but it's quite pricey. For example, I just went to Whole Foods and organic cucumbers were $1.49/each and 2 organic honeycrisp apples came out to about $3 for the pair

[@mileitman]

@@americathebeautifulforever9746 You'll never find lemons or avocadoes at farmers markets in Canada, as farmers don't grow that produce here.

[@maryannebrown2385]

@@americathebeautifulforever9746 Are you in the South? I am up North, and our farmers markets are still quite expensive.

[@dr.westwood]

@SalNova15 Where I live we have only Walmart and Safeway. I went did this week's shopping at Walmart this morning. Avocados $1.89 each; 8 oz of spinach $5; 8 oz of kale $5; small lemons $0.89 each; tomatoes $1.59/lb; sweet yellow onions $1.29/lb; whole crimini mushrooms $3.79 for an 8 oz package; celery $1.99/lb; carrots $1.79/lb; zucchini (courgettes) $1.59/lb; parsley $0.99 per bunch; honeycrisp apples $4.99/lb; bananas $1.29/lb; whole grain bread $4.99 per loaf; sliced swiss cheese $7.49/lb; deli turkey breast $10.99/lb; non-organic just plain large eggs $2.29/dozen; 1 lb unsalted butter $4.49; 32 oz Greek style yogurt $5.49; grass-fed beef meatballs $9.99/lb (frozen; approximately 20 per package); frozen prawns (shrimp) $13.99/lb; salmon filet $17.99/lb; boneless, skinless chicken breast $8.99/lb. And this is Walmart. And I only bought enough for one person for a week. Food prices keep going up and up and apparently aren't going to come back down. I'm privileged enough to have space to grow my own food in spring and summer, but now it's too cold to grow much of anything. We already have temperatures well below freezing every night, so I've no choice but to buy it in the shops.

[@renee176]

FYI: it would happen in America, you can get Yorkshire Tea from Walmart...lol! At least the one I go to you can...lol!🙂

[@bobbbxxx]

Walmart Canada has it, too. You just have to shop around different supermarkets.

[@kIdeoCash_TMG]

HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP is the suger in most sodas it you go for diet soda the replacement for HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP usaullay is Aspartame REGULAR COKE only has HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP where REGULAR PEPSI few years ago decide to add suger with HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP I switch from pepsi to coke - because pepsi now has to much suger in it

[@johanargente6731]

The Europeans got this one correct. It will eventually be established with certainty that HFCS wreaks havoc on the endocrine system.

[@mileitman]

In Canada, regular Coke has a blend of sugar and "glucose/fructose" a Canadianism for high fructose corn syrup.

[@dougbrowning82]

Farm Boy is an Ontario chain owned by Empire Stores. West of Ontario, they have Freshco, a discount grocery chain. But their main, national chains are Sobey's and Safeway, and their Needs convenience store chain. Metro Stores operates in Ontario and Quebec, and their discount brand is Food Basics. There is also Alberta based Loblaw's, with Real Canadian Superstore,, No Frills, and Shopper's Drug Mart. MacDonald Consolidated (formerly owned by Safeway) has their Family Foods chain. Save On Foods and London Drugs are chains based in BC, and, of course, Walmart and Costco are here, too. There's also the Co-op system, based in Saskatchewan. Canadian prices are generally higher than their US counterparts, especially dairy, poultry, and eggs, due to our supply management system, and the general currency exchange rate.

[@mileitman]

Good overview, though you missed that Empire operates IGA in Quebec.

[@peterg.newton3257]

Farm Boy would be deemed upmarket. Then you add the premium of being located in the downtown area. We "cherry pick" when shopping at our local Farm Boy.

[@bobbbxxx]

And tack on a premium for specialty imported foods from other countries. Especially expensive coming from the UK or Europe.

[@kayflip2233]

I'm from NYC but have worked in Toronto and London and travelled around the world and I can tell you that the UK has WAY better grocery stores and markets than anywhere I've been except Japan and maybe France. NYC is terrible for groceries and markets. It's a bit surprising because the UK isn't world renowned for having amazing cuisine yet the grocery quality, markets, and variety is so good. Even the restaurant variety and quality are better in London than probably anywhere I've been to except Tokyo or Paris. NYC has some good restaurants but still not as good as London.

[@peggles7012]

Joel and Lia, have you checked out a Costco in the US yet? You will have content for days!

[@mileitman]

They actually have Costco in the UK (as do we in Canada)

[@montymontano8618]

How about Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s in the United States.

[@terryomalley1974]

They could've checked out Costco while in Toronto. There's probably at least a dozen stores of theirs. Buy, I think they were trying to get to a store that was accessible by foot.

[@mileitman]

@@terryomalley1974 for a big supermarket they were just a few blocks from the Loblaws on Queen's Quay. Though it seems they chanced upon the Farm Boy.

[@philipmclaughlin9636]

Love Costco rotisserie chickens. Massive chicken at a low price

[@TheSUPERHAPPY1]

If you want to pull your hair out, but get good prices, go to Superstore

[@RWernsing]

Try a Loblaws

[@terryyy1944]

Can someone comment on Colman's Mustard? It is readily available here in California. Instead of deciding what I will put on my sandwich I must decide what I will put my Colman's on.

[@bobbbxxx]

Yes, Colman's and Keen's also in Canada. I keep powdered Keens as well for making certain dishes.

[@JoDee172]

You don't have to lift and move your mask away when you're talking! 😅 We can hear you just the same (Plus, you shouldn't... especially if you're talking)

[@Bytherocks]

It’s amazing, but super pricey. Love it though.

[@vincenthaegebaert1854]

You are being so mean to my store. LOL. I work at the Front Street and Bathurst location. And yes, food cost in Canada is CRAZY.

[@bobbbxxx]

Compared to where, though? Supermarket foods are pretty expensive in most Western industrialised nations. If you live downtown in Toronto you can shop Chinatown for much cheaper and usually much fresher produce. Much cheaper.

[@blowba]

I don't know if this is Canada's version of Whole Foods, but they seem to have Whole Foods' prices!

[@terryomalley1974]

We have Whole Foods in Canada. Not is smaller towns, but in the big cities like Toronto, Montreal,Vancouver, etc...

[@blowba]

It seems like these guys maybe going after the same customers.

[@terryomalley1974]

@@blowba They are. Especially in that neighborhood with all the $multi-million condos.

[@blowba]

@@terryomalley1974 I don't doubt it.

[@pacmanc8103]

@@terryomalley1974 I don’t know about up there, but there are a lot more people who shop at Whole Foods in the US than live in multi-million dollar condos! Maybe not the same folks who regularly shop at Wal-Mart, though!

[@ramonashearer7241]

You have to realize the plastic containers are recyclable. Corn syrup is terrible for you. It is in a lot of products. Read the labels.

[@rich7447]

Something will kill you eventually. Live it up.

[@staceybert1975]

That is a import grocery store.

[@mileitman]

No. It's a higher end supermarket chain, not import focussed. Same owner as Sobeys, Safeway and IGA in Canada.

[@bobbbxxx]

@@mileitman Hmmm.. Farm Boy gets a lot of imported things. It is not the same as other stores owned by the same group.

[@EdwardMitchem]

Looks similar to a Whole Foods.

[@candleduck9339]

Go to Superstore

[@CG68810]

The equivalent of Walmart in Canada, is Walmart! LOL...They have Walmart there. You can get english cucumbers in the US for cheap at Sam's Club (Walmart whole store). I don't like the English cucumbers as much as the regular US ones. They are not as flavorful.

[@wjdietrich]

Uuuum...... US cucumbers?Do you mean just regular cucumbers(not invented by the US) that the rest of the world ALSO has?

[@CG68810]

@@wjdietrich Calm down Mary! I mean that the English cucumbers are different than the ones in the US. I didn't say the US invented them. Someone always gotta be triggered.

[@Sssssssslf]

what a funny name for a supermarket!

[@dotell8925]

😁

[@brianbrady3086]

canadian bacon is basically ham. If you go to a Mariano's Grocery Store in America our Sushi is da bomb.

[@ThomasJM]

Not really Canadian bacon is taken from just above where a ham is cut from a pig. It's then rolled in peamal so it is usually gets called peamal Bacon here in Canada. It's also sliced thicker than it is in other places that call thin slices of ham Canadian bacon.

[@brianbrady3086]

@@ThomasJM Good to know ... The American thanks you.

[@ThomasJM]

@@brianbrady3086 no problem

[@mileitman]

@@ThomasJM I'm not an expert, but I thought it was from the back/loin, hence the name back bacon

[@ThomasJM]

@@mileitman yeah ham comes from the back leg of the pig so back bacon comes from just above it.

[@mileitman]

In Canada, we don't call it Canadian bacon. What Americans call Canadian bacon, we call back bacon. It's what Brits call just bacon

[@rich7447]

I live in the US and what they cann Canadian bason here is HAM. Canadian Bacon comes form the loin and you can order it.

[@mileitman]

@@rich7447 I didn't know what you call Canadian bacon is what we call ham.

[@philipmclaughlin9636]

It's like going to Ireland and calling it Bailey's Irish Cream. They just call it Bailey's lol

[@rich7447]

@@mileitman The stuff they sell in the US is basically ham. Not really back bacon.

[@mileitman]

@@rich7447 Only in Canada, eh? Pity. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXLXdYuFo9Kkn68

[@asgharakram]

Wegmans in USA is like this