Wanderings in the grocery store isles

My grandmother has been ill. She found out in early fall that she had breast cancer. Her journey has been difficult with tests, chemo, and even an infection that brought her to the steps of death's door. However, her strength is amazing and she has taken everything in stride. Her optimism tempered with realism has been quite inspirational. I hope for a speedy recovery, but am comforted by the fact that she will hold her head high no matter the challenges she faces. I digress.

I make it no secret that I attempt in all forms and fashions to avoid conventional grocery stores.

I get my food delivered to me, grow it, or shop at farmer's markets. I do occasionally stop in a store to get a bottle of wine but even then I try to find an independently owned store, and have attempted to teach my palate to appreciate Missouri wines.

However, with grandmother being ill and grandpa still needing to eat, I have had to venture into the dark side of life - conventional grocery stores.

The fact that my grandfather is known for growing all natural beef in a way that most people say it couldn't/ shouldn't be done (more on that in another post), yet eats grocery store beef, my grandmother is one of the most fabulous from scratch bakers yet buys packaged sweets, she can pickle a mean pickle and does... yet gives them away and buys hers from the store, she makes fantastic jam, yet buys more from the store, has bees and fresh honey, yet once again buys honey from the store... well, the irony is not lost on me. I don't attempt to understand it all, and I just go with the flow. Yes, I am a die hard foodie and activist against anything grown, sold and manufactured without a conscience. However, just because I have my own opinions and views of the food world doesn't mean others, including my own family, aren't entitled to theirs. Once again, I digress.

To the point: While wandering around the grocery store looking for things on gma and gpa's list, I have to say I was quite taken aback. First of all, why is honey in the condiments isle? I spent 15 minutes browsing around in the sugar section at a loss. Secondly, while searching for bread I was trying really hard to find a loaf without high fructose corn syrup- it was impossible!!! When I asked to speak to the butcher, I was told they didn't have one. What???? Furthermore, when I told the woman why I wanted to see the butcher (so I could ask who the meat supplier was) she looked at me as though I had fallen and hit my head- was this such a funny question?

Oh, and an entire isle devoted to soft drinks and fruit drinks? Curiosity got the best of me and I started reading labels. I would be surprised if the entire isle contained even 8 0z of actual fruit juice.

How did all of this happen? When did corn and soy dressed up with fancy labels become food? In the summer when I only eat local foods, I commonly get the comment of "I would love to only eat local, but there just isn't enough variety." Huh? I think the summer abundance of produce to be of much more variety versus what I have found in the grocery store.

Cheers and Happy Eats!
Lucinda