Food Production in Australia – State of Origin

A recent episode of Cupcake Wars celebrated state foods by showcasing various items in cupcake form. Think Californian Oranges, Georgia Peaches, Iowa Corn, Texan Beef, Maine Lobsters, Montana Huckleberries and Virginia Ham to name a few. The Americans really know how to celebrate their regional produce and cuisine.

What happened in Australia? Our food growers are struggling, walking away from the land, as it appears we prefer to buy cheap imports. Fresh bread from the supermarket? The ACCC alleges Coles imports par-baked bread from Ireland.

We used to take pride in Tasmanian apples and potatoes, bananas grown in Queensland (hello fellow banana benders), Gayndah oranges, King Island dairy products, Chinchilla watermelons… why don’t we celebrate and support our regional foods?

Update on the way!

Six months of receipts. Just in time for the introduction of the carbon tax 😀 Watch this space. Will be up by this weekend.

Coles Waterloo 06/04/2010

I use a shopping list.  I bought a lovely pad from kikki.K  http://www.kikki-k.com/shop/product/magnetic-shopping-list/ and use it to jot down items I need or have run out of and need to be replaced.  Even milk – if it isn’t on the list, I may get bedazzled by the myriad of items available in the supermarket.  I can particularly get bedazzled by new cleaning products.  And I despise cleaning as much as shopping.  So far I have yet to find  a product that truly self cleans, that is, you place said product in front of the item to be cleaned, wander off and have a coffee, and return to the gleaming item.

My shopping list is what would be termed as ‘old school’ ( http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=old%20school ).  Apparently you can get apps and templates for your smartphone.  However those apps are basically datamining – profiling what you buy so marketing can be tweaked to your personal quirks.  The difference between your apps and the rewards cards of Woolworths, Franklins & Coles is that some apps for smartphones will pop up ads for items as one shops.  And with my shopping habits, I could very well end up coming home with a Willy Wonka shop (termed I coined after Mr Fabulous is allowed to go shopping unsupervised – basically all biscuits, chips and lollies – he was deprived as a child).  I’m sure if I bought Lynx Dark Temptation (deoderant with a chocolate inspired scent), I would get M & M pop ups.

Anyhow, like all good  lists, my shopping list is a guide.  I’m open to new products.  But if something is rammed down my throat so to say, I won’t be interested in buying it.  Unless it cleans.

Superior Gold Smoked Salmon 200g $9.69

Golden Cirlce Juice 2L $3.49

Coles Eggs 700g 12 pack $3.99

I & J Fish Fingers 800g $6.92

Earth’s Choice Dishwashing detergent 500ml $2.68 **special**

Massel Stock cubes 105 g $2.59 (these are the only Ausralian made & owned stock cubes I have found – and they are fab)

Big Sister glace cherries 100g $2.07

Wrigleys Extra chwing gum 2 pack $2.99

Iceburg Lettuce $2.98

William Pears $3.48 / kg

Lemon 50cents each

Coles Surry Hills (NSW) 31 March 2010

This is what happens when the family joins you shopping when you decide there’s nothing in the cupboards worth cooking for dinner.  I can’t even remember what I made now…

Calci yum milk 250ml $1.69

Coles cookies & cream icecream 1.85L  $5.00

Coles frozen hash browns 1kg  $3.95

Red seedless grapes $3.98 / kg

Sweet potatoe gold $3.48 / kg

Butternut pumpkin $1.48 / kg

Have a safe Easter xx

Woolworths & Big W AUBURN (NSW) 28/03/10

Ventured out afar, as I have been promising.

W/W lite milk 3L   $3.59

Fiji Water 1L   $2.82

Coca Cola 1.25L   $2.19

Lipton Ice tea raspberry 500ml   $2.29

W/W Tasmanian Low salt butter 250g   $1.99

Lurpack butter 250g $3.79 **special**

Wrigley’s chweing gum 28 piece 2 pack $2.89

O’Cedar Furniture polish 200ml    $6.65 **special**

Stain removal kit   $9.99

Cadbury Dairy Milk choc 200g   $2.99

Kellogs Crunchy Nut cereal 710g  $7.72

Arnotts family assorted cream biscuits 500g   $3.69

Doritos chips 200g   $1.99

Bananas $1.68 / kg

BIG W

Finish 10 all in 1 diswasher 112 tabs $39.98

Woolworths Surry Hills 22/03/2010

I had to get milk.  An almost teenage boy in the house does that.   This was a pretty good effort considering I was only getting milk.  Sometimes I can end up doing what amounts to a regular grocery shop.  I did do a little price comparison, and … shhh, took a photo of a price tag. Bornhoffen acidof yogurt is $4.99 at the cute Surry Hills store ($5.05 at Bondi Junction Woolies), continental cucumber $1.68 ($1.78 at Bondi Junction).  But it is Coles that assures consumers their prices “are the same low prices” across the respective state “from Bondi to Bathurst” or “Cooloogatta to Cairns”.

W/W lite milk 3L $3.59

Arnotts Arrowroot bisc 250g $1.90

Cucumber continental $1.68

Abbots wholemeal bread 750g $4.48

Lipton Ice Tea 500ml $2.29

Tim Tams **special** $1.99

Woolworths & Bush’s Fresh Meats Bondi Junction 19/03/2010

One of the things I love about living in Sydney is supermarket shopping hours.  I can go grocery shopping at midnight Friday night if I so desire.  And because this mother of two wants to be out at midnight on a Friday night, I have!

Don’t worry, the children are sleeping  in the carpark – just kidding.

BACON

I bought bacon at Bush’s Fresh meats.  It’s the butcher opposite Woolworths. $16.99 / kg, but worth every cent.

Pre-packed bacon sold in Australia is made from imported pork, and I prefer to support local industry.  See the link below:

http://www.foodweek.com.au/main-features-page.aspx?ID=6777

Woolworths

W/W lite milk 3L $3.59

Ocean Spray cranberry 1.5L $5.49

Free range chicken breast $17.00 / kg

Premium beef mince $9.98 / kg

Mars malteser egg bag 250g $7.48

Yoplait forme 1kg $4.99

W/W low salt Tasmanian butter $1.99

Cracker Barrel cheese lite 500g $6.95

Perfect Italiano shredded Parmesan cheese 125g $3.59

Simply eggs 700g 12 pack $3.99

Nestle rolo 200g $1.99

Crunch block 200g $1.99

Thomy mayo 470g $5.49

Kraft Philly lite 150g $3.18

Lurpack blend butter 250g **special*8 $3.79

King Island honey cinnamon yog 300g  ** special** $4.49

noted but not purchased Bornhoffen acido yog 1kg $5.05

Kellogs Crunchy Nut cereal 710g $5.99

Wrigleys extra twin pack chewing gum $2.89

W/W hairclips 6 pack $4.49

McVitis Digestive bisc 400g $3.89

Arnotts Sao 250g $1.99

Home Brand crackers (Sao alternative) $1.09 (I know these are not a patch on real Arnotts’ Sao biscuits)

Le Snak 6 pack 132g $4.49

Uncle Toby choc chip muesli bars 12 pack $5.63

Eggplant $3.98 / kg

Finish rinse aid 55ml $7.61

Eno salts 200g $9.01

Philips light bulbs 70W $3.35

Brussel Sprouts $5.98 / kg

Figs fresh $24.87 / kilo (David Jones foodhall Bondi Junction $25.00 / kilo and much more appealing)

Cashews roasted/salted loose $19.96 / kg

Avocado shephard $2.78

Broccoli $7.98 / kg

Masterfoods BBQ sause 50oml $2.52

Analisa tinned lentils 400g $1.37

Analisa tinned kidney beans 400g $1.37

Mazze balsalmic vinegar 250ml $2.99

Homebrand plum jam 500g $1.39

Holbrooks Worcestershire sause 500ml $4.39

Sirena tuna 185g $3.49

Bananas $2.98 / kg

Kiwifruit $5.98 / kg

Cucumber continental $1.78 ea

Tomato truss $7.98 / kg

Tomato romatherapy 250g $3.24

Nectarine white $4.98

Rocket 120g $3.91

Berri 2.4L juice $3.98 ** or 2 for $6.00 **

Melinda gluten free choc fudge packet mix 415g $5.99

Melindagluten free  Choc/walnut slice packet mix 400g $5.99

**Melinda offer ** 2 for $10.00

Coles Surry Hills 12/03/2010

Order is restored, I am in charge of the trolley, although Mr Fab was with me.

Coles Lite Milk 3L $3.96

Bornhoffen Natural Acidof Yog 1kg $4.99

YLC Pineapple Juice 2L $2.45

Barbie pyramid easter egg gift pack 60g $8.00

Hot Wheels pyramid easter egg gift pack 60 $8.00

Ocean Spray Cranberry 1L$4.70

Pane Toscano Pagnota 450g $3.99

Uncle Toby’s Chewy muesli bars 6 pack $3.00 **on special**

Extra sweet mint chewing gum 2 pack $3.05

Cadbury dairy milk eggs 125g $4.50

Cadbury strawberry eggs 135g $4.50

Cadbury milk eggs 325g $7.50

Coles brand small snap lock bags 50 pack $2.29

Kit Kat 170g $1.99

Nectarines white $3.98 / kg

Royal Gala apples $3.98 / kg

Woolworths Eastgardens NSW 06/03/2010

Another unsupervised grocery shop by Mr Fabulous and the Fabettes.

Heinz Pure NZ frozen veg 450g $2.40

McCain frozen stirfry 1kg $4.84

W/W lite milk 3L $3.59

Ocean Spray cranberry 1.5L $5.49

Bega Cheese slices 250g $4.96

Yoplait forme 1kg  $4.99

Smiths varitey mix chips 20 pack $6.73

Billy tea 250g $2.69

milk coffee biscuits 250g $1.90

Arnotts saos 250g $1.99

PDS marshmallows $2.59

Le snak 6 pack 132g $4.49

green pancake shake 375g $2.99

Kellogs sustain 575g $5.29

bananas $2.98 / kg

cashews roasted salted $11.98 / kg

Williams pears $2.33 / kg

Navel oranges $2.72 / kg

Woolworths Marrickville Metro 28/02/2010

Note: this was Mr Fabulous and the children let loose grocery shopping without me to guide and berate.

W/W Lite Milk 3L $3.59

Farmers Union Ice Coffee Milk 2L $4.69

PDS marsh mallows 250g $1.99

Extra sweet mint chewing gum 2 pack $2.89

Patties party pies 1.25Kg $11.54

W/W health smart beef sausages 500g $4.73

McCain frozen baby peas 500g $2.85

La Famiglia Garlic Bread 9 slices 270g $3.87

Homebrand Apple juice 2L $1.89

San Remo pasta 500g $1.99

Homebrand instant noodles 10 pack $2.17

Kleenex 200 tissues $2.56

Cadbury dairymilk choc 200g $3.99

Kleenex 50 car pack tissues  $1.06

Leggos carobanara sauce 565g $2.99

Heinz baked beans 3 pack 420g $4.30

SPC spaghetti 3 pack 420g $4.19

plastic ruler 30cm 0.85cents

Bountry choc 12 pack 168g $3.99

Arnotts Milk arrowroot 250g $1.90

Arnotts tim tams 200g $2.89

Heinz soup 535g $3.09

John West tuna 95g $1.82

Golden Circle beetroot 450g $1.60

P/farm eggs 600g $4.37

Le snak 6 pack 132g $4.49

Watermelon 0.98cents / kilo

Kiwifriut $2.98 / kilo

Williams pears $1.98 / kilo

Grapes red globe $5.98 / kilo

Iceberg lettuce $2.48

Avocado shepard $1.98 ea

Carrots 1kg (pre-bagged) $1.29

Blueberry 125g $2.98

Almonds 750g $11.98