You Don't Know What You're Missing

Monday, June 27, 2011
Lately Andy's taken to eating avocados.Which is fine. They're loaded with healthy fat and I can think of worse things to eat, even if these aren't exactly a shining example of eating locally.
But the other week, as Andy cut into yet another avocado, I felt I needed to mention something. "Just so you know," I said. "Each one of those little avocados you're so fond of costs $1.99."

Last week, the lowly avocado was up to $2.05 . . . each.

Now, I know avocados don't grow anywhere nearby; that they're getting shipped cross-country to make it to the local produce shelf. I understand that mileage means money, but holy smokes, $2.05 for a little bit of produce, a big portion of which is an inedible pit? These aren't even organic!

The other day, I was talking with a snowbird who had just returned from Arizona. As we talked about the "roadkill" produce we often settle for at the local grocers, she mentioned that in Arizona she can often buy four avocados for a dollar.

"But if you're not used to lower prices," she said, "you don't know what you're missing."

She wasn't meaning to be condescending or flippant. But even I know that $2.05 is an exorbitant price for an avocado. Even I know that our slow internet is really slow and recognize that cell service would be handy thing to have at times around here. These little inconvenient realities of living in the woods aren't lost on the permanent residents. Rather, they're accepted, yet often bemoaned. These things are simply out of our hands.

We're rural, but not necessarily insular and ignorant. As a matter of fact, I've got an inkling about what we're missing.

14 comments:

  1. Funny how in our fast-paced society, those running at high speed don't consider that some people actually enjoy living in a place that is "missing" a few things.

    *I'm a sucker for Avocados too. I can't help myself.

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  2. I love avocados! Living in the zone between 4 for 1Dollar and 2.05Dollar for one, it is one indulgence I do not stop eating. Summer salad with strawberries, melon and avocado? Yummy. Avocado sorbet. Delicious! Plain avocado? I cant get enough!
    Have a great start into the week!

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  3. I love avocados, but they definitely get expensive in MN.

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  4. I got used to paying over $2 for avocados when I first moved to So Cal because in my whole life before the move I had never tried them and once I did I was hooked. I didnt know what I had been missing! The expense was a bit much so I made a small investment and bought a tree :) Amazing!

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  5. We live in a rural area... not quite wooded but definitely far enough out that other people think we live in the 'sticks'. It's a 30 minute drive to most things but it's just such a part of our lives we don't really bat an eye at it. Yet, those who live in the city seemed shocked when they hear how far our commute is. It's all in how you look at it I guess. 30 minutes is a small price to pay for the tranquility of country living. (And we pay a lot for that little green gem as well!!)

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  6. I only like avocados when they blend in with other ingredients. The crazy part is my favorite avocado use is for vegan chocolate pudding, I know it sounds strange but it actually tastes good!

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  7. Ya know, I live in California and I saw some of these Avacados at the grocery store for $1.99 (as if Avacado's were GOLD or something) then I went to Walmart...and they were 2 for $1.00. So, do you have a Walmart close by? It's not Arizona but I guess it's close enough :)

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  8. By the way, after reading my last published comment, I now know how to spell AVOCADO : )

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  9. We live 30 minutes from the main town where the shopping and movies and such are...but to us it doesn't seem that long of a drive. We even drive that 30 min (most times we make it in 25) ;) to our church! It is the cost to pay living in the rural community and I love it. I have lived here with my hubbie for over 31 years and he has lived here his whole life (other than college) we could not love our community more! :)

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  10. We "townsfolk" don't know what we're missing sometimes, either. :) Thank you for reminding us!

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  11. Ummm- yes, I would assume you know what's going on, you are quite the cosmopolitan woman, even if you do live in the woods! ;)

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  12. I think avacados are SO weird. Their texture actually kinda freaks me out, haha.

    It's easy for us who reliably have all those things forget how easy we have it. I love reading your blog. This is quite the gem. :)

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  13. Never have been a huge fan of the avocado. Never been a huge fan of being told I don't know what I'm missing either...come on, people, I'm not completely ignorant!

    But I've got a feeling she doesn't know what she's missing out on either...things a lot more important than cheap fruit I'm sure.

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  14. Methinks she doth... fluffinate too much. (That means to spout out a lot of fluff when good logic or wisdom is on vacation. People say the coolest things, don't they? Where you're just like, Really?! Oh well, my point is, she's jealous.

    Once we're out of the high school realm (in my mid-30s) it seems like the snide comments of envious girls turn to cleverly-simulated "huhh" purely observational comments.

    You know, like, "Huhh, I had no idea that color was back in style, leave it to you to wear it first!"

    or "Huhh, your decorating is really neutral. Pretty. I myself just HAVE to have color; otherwise I feel like I'm in a hospital hallway."

    'Nough said. ;D

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