What are some food items that cost less than what they "should"?

Bananas are ridiculously cheap even up here in Canada, and they aren’t grown anywhere near here. Yet a banana can grow, be harvested, be shipped, be stocked, and then be purchased by me for less than it’d cost to mail a letter across town. (Well, if I could buy a single banana maybe…or maybe that’s not the best comparison, but I think you get my point)

Along the banana’s journey, the farmer, the harvester, the shipper, the grocer, the clerk, and the cashier all (presumably) get paid. Yet a single banana is mere cents. If you didn’t know any better, you might think a single banana should cost $10!

I’m presuming that this is because of some sort of exploitation somewhere down the line, or possibly loss-leading on the grocery store’s side of things.

I’m wondering what other products like bananas are a lot cheaper than they “should” be (e.g., based on how far they have to travel, or how difficult they are to produce, or how much money we’re saving “unethically”).

I’ve heard that this applies to coffee and chocolate to varying extents, but I’m not certain.

Anyone know any others?

Chainweasel,

Snack cakes. Do you want to know why America has an obesity epidemic?
Because a whole box of Swiss cake rolls is $2.50 at Walmart and a deli salad is $5.00.

otp,

It’s not much different in Canada. I strongly dislike all the HFCS-sweetened stuff.

haggyg, (edited )

Always thought garlic bread is such a steal. Often you can get 2 (small) baguettes for less than £1 and G Bread is so good. When my plans of world domination come in, free garlic bread for everyone is first on the agenda.

otp,

I’m not sure if world domination usually comes with an election, but I’d vote for you!

PP_BOY_,
@PP_BOY_@lemmy.world avatar

Rice. A 20lb bag can provide 70% of your food volume for a month and costs like $10. Easily the best poverty food hack there is.

otp,

We can’t grow rice in Canada, so that definitely applies to us! Still cheap here, though.

frefi, (edited )
@frefi@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

imo I don’t think there is any food item costs less than it should

edit: I’m speaking as a person who is broke and I buy microwave meals because I don’t have time, money or energy to make/eat other stuff

otp,

I would argue that that’s because you should be paid more money. That’s why I’m not suggesting we should be paying more. Just kind of wondering what foods are “artificially” priced low due to exploitation of labour (etc).

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