The Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs notifies the public of its Thanksgiving Food Basket Survey findings, which was completed on Nov. 12. The survey is designed to inform consumers about which stores have the best prices on grocery items typically used for a Thanksgiving meal. The number of items compared on each island varies as a result of comparison guidelines which require that items are identical in order to produce a valid survey.
St. Croix
On St. Croix four stores were surveyed: Pueblo Golden Rock, Pueblo La Reine and Plaza Extra stores in Christiansted and Frederiksted. A total of 46 of the same items were compared at each location. The difference between the highest and lowest priced basket for October was $16.67.
Some of the items that made up the holiday food basket for St. Croix included: macaroni and cheese, rice, flour, celery, onion, potatoes, pigeon peas, pumpkin pie mix, raisins, white vinegar, baking powder, vegetable oil, pork shoulder, turkey gravy, egg nog, foil and napkins.
The lowest priced family food basket was found at Plaza Extra’s Frederiksted’s location at $152.73. Plaza Extra’s Christiansted location came in second with a food basket cost of $159.94; $7.21 more than its counterpart location. Pueblo’s La Reine location came in third with a basket cost of $163.80. Closing out the survey was Pueblo’s Golden Rock location at a cost of $169.40.
**At the time of the original survey on November 12th, two of the four stores surveyed did not have turkey/ ham. As a result, these items were not included in the overall basket cost for the four stores. A grocery item can only be included in the survey and compared when all of the stores carry the same item. A second survey was conducted on November 20th (when all four stores had turkey and ham) to provide consumers with the costs of this popular thanksgiving items. The following is the November 20th findings for turkey and ham in the St. Croix stores:Smoked ham and two types of turkeys were surveyed for St. Croix; Butterball and Shur Fresh turkey. Plaza Extra’s Christiansted and Frederiksted locations both offered the lowest prices for smoked ham and turkey. Plaza Extra offered smoked ham at a cost of $1.39 per pound. Butterball turkey was sold at a cost of $1.59 per pound and Shur Fresh turkey was sold at a cost of $1.49 per pound. Both Pueblo locations, Golden Rock and La Reine offered smoked ham at a cost of $1.99 per pound. Butterball turkey was offered at a cost of $2.29 per pound and Shur Fresh turkey was offered at a cost of $1.69 per pound at both locations.
St. Thomas
On St. Thomas four stores were surveyed: Plaza Extra, Food Center and Pueblo supermarkets in Long Bay and Sub Base. A total of 45 of the same items were compared at each location. The difference between the highest and lowest priced holiday food basket was $9.16.
Some of the items that made up the holiday food basket for St. Thomas included: fresh pumpkin, potatoes, rice, macaroni & cheese, flour, pigeon peas, Cornish hen, turkey, smoked ham, pork shoulder, sparkling cider, Adobo seasoning, turkey gravy, vegetable oil, baking powder, tomato paste and egg nog.
The lowest priced holiday food basket was found at Plaza Extra with a cost of $138.03. Food Center came in second with a holiday basket cost of $141.37. Pueblo’s Sub Base and Long Bay locations came in third and fourth respectively. Pueblo Sub Base had a food basket cost of $142.61, while Pueblo’s Long Bay location had a food basket cost of $147.19.
St. John
On St. John three stores were surveyed: Dolphin Market, Starfish Market and Pine Peace Mini Mart. A total of 20 of the same items were compared at each location. The difference between the highest and lowest priced food basket for September was $1.19.
Some of the items that made up the holiday basket for St. John included: sweet potato, fresh pumpkin, potatoes, macaroni and cheese, vegetable oil and raisins.
The lowest priced food basket was found at Pine Peace Mini Mart with a cost of $44.31. Star Fish Market came in second with a food basket cost of $45.44. Coming in third was Dolphin Market with a holiday basket cost of $45.50.
Consumers are reminded to shop wisely and compare food prices to make the best economic choices. DLCA’s Thanksgiving food basket survey compares brand name products to ensure accurate comparisons. If four stores make up the comparison pool, all four stores must carry the same items. If three out of four stores carries a particular item and one store does not, that item must be removed from the basket list. This is done to ensure an accurate comparison of all stores per island.