Shop Canadian

For the first time ever, DW and I got out of Costco, last Saturday, spending less than $100 on our grocery run. Our bill came to $77 and change.

We managed to still buy our essentials but there were many things that we usually get, but ended up putting them back on the shelf. Why? Because they were products of the United States.

We said no thanks to our usual case of Bubly flavoured sparkling water. We said goodbye to our mango nectar, which I usually add to my morning smoothies.

Having finished the last of the jug that we already had at home, I've switched to tap water.

Being a potato-chip junkie, we came away empty-handed.

DW and I cruised our usual route around the aisles of Costco but before anything went into the cart, we checked labels for where the product originated, and when the label was unclear, I whipped out a handy phone app.

Shop Canadian app tile.

Shop Canadian.

This app scans the UPC or QR code of a product and tells you if the item is a product of Canada, was made in Canada, or comes from elsewhere. It also relies on user input, where you can provide information about how much Canadian involvement makes up the product.

For example, a package of tea might have been made in Canada from imported leaves (as far as I know, we don't grow tea in our country). I scanned one package of tea and the app told me that the product was made in Canada, but didn't tell me how much.

I examined the box and learned that the leaves were imported but that the tea was processed, bagged, and packaged in Québec. According to the app, that gives this tea a Canadian rating of three maple leaves out of five.

Unfortunately, the package did not reveal where the leaves were sourced, but DW and I took a chance and figured that they didn't come from the U.S., so in the shopping cart it went.

It took us a little longer to get our groceries but we expect the shopping process will go faster, now that we know which of the products we used to get are no longer on our shopping list. Leaving Costco on that morning, the only things we were bringing home were Canadian and Italian.

From Costco, we went to Farm Boy. Sure, it can be a bit more expensive than some of the grocery stores in our neighbourhood but we've boycotted Loblaws, and the other stores aren't as close to home.

And, because of the manager of Farm Boy from a couple of years ago, I'm forever loyal.

Shopping in Farm Boy was easy. The signs in the produce section clearly state the origin of the food. We shopped Canadian first, Ontario second, and then any country other than the United States. A couple of things weren't clear, but the Shop Canadian app was once again useful.

Farm Boy's house sparkling water is a product of Canada, so we can kiss Bubly goodbye. Their house-brand of potato chips is 100-percent Canadian, manufactured by Covered Bridge, in New Brunswick.

Leaving Farm Boy, the only non-Canadian product we walked out with was the package of Brussels sprouts, which came from Mexico. And again, we spent under $100.

I think our shopping habits are forever changed. Going forward, DW and I are determined to shop local whenever possible. She is already searching online for Canadian alternatives to her makeup and skin products, as well as our soaps and other necessities. Of course, we won't be able to shop exclusively Canadian but we're determined to avoid American products at all costs.

We've also cancelled all of our American streaming services: Netflix, Disney+, Paramount+, Prime Video, and more. We're watching a lot of programs on CBC Gem and streaming CTV and Global.

And, of course, we have BritBox.

I think we'll be just fine, shopping anywhere but from the U.S. of A. How about you?