I love fresh blueberries. In fact, I love them so much that I was eating them every day. That was until the price of this delicious berry started going up. Why the price went up I can only attribute to the fuel increases. I know blueberries are not in season during the winter months, but I have never seen an increase in fresh blueberries like I have this past winter.
I had been purchasing blueberries from the produce section of our local grocers for several months with the price never going up, until January of this year, about the same time gas and diesel fuel prices started going up. It did not matter which grocery store I shopped at, as they all had fresh blueberries for the same price. Before January the price of fresh blueberries was $2.50 for a 12 oz. container. Of course the grocery stores sold them as two containers for $5.00, trying to trick the shopper into thinking they were getting a bargain by buying two.
In late January, the blueberry price increased to $3.00 for a 12 oz. container or two containers for $6.00. Again, two for one price looks better to the unknowing consumer than a set price for a single container.
In February the price went up to $3.50 for a 12 oz. container of blueberries or two containers for $7.00. I stopped buying fresh blueberries when the price went up the first time back in January and started buying more affordable fruit such as apples, melons, and bananas.
By now, for me, watching the price of fresh blueberries had become a habit or quest, if you wish. How much would the price continue to rise? Was it just a coincidence that the price of blueberries increased each time the price of gas increased at the pumps?
In March the cost of fresh blueberries shot up to $3.88 for a 12 oz container. You are probably wondering why I keep referring to a 12 oz. container. You will soon see.
In April fresh blueberry prices went up to $4.00 for a 12 oz. container or two for $8.00. Longing for a blueberry fix, I contemplated buying frozen ones, which were only $2.88 for a 16 oz. bag, but decided against it, as I preferred the fresh ones.
The month of May came with even higher gas and diesel fuel prices, but when I ventured to the grocery store to do my weekly shopping and to check out the price of fresh blueberries, I was stunned. The sign over the containers of fresh blueberries was back down to $2.50 a container or two for $5.00. Finally, the price of fresh blueberries was back down and my mouth started to water. May was the beginning of blueberry season, so I figured the high prices were just due to the fact that it was not blueberry season and not related to fuel increases at all.
I rushed over to the blueberry stand and lifted a precious container of this luscious fruit to put in my cart. Wait a minute, something was wrong. Something did not feel or look right. I looked at the container and started reading the label.
Yes, the price was down, but so was the size of the container holding the fresh blueberries. Instead of being a 12 oz. container, it was now a 4.4 oz. container. A little more than a third size than what it used to be. That meant that in order to get 12 oz. of blueberries I would have to buy three 4.4 oz. containers at a total cost of $7.50.
I went to the service desk and asked to speak with a store manager. I asked him why the cost of fresh blueberries had more than tripled in the last few months and why the container size was a third of what it used to be. I asked, “Is this because of the high cost of fuel or what? I know other products have been affected, but not the way fresh blueberries have.” He merely stated as he turned away, “Fuel increases are affecting all food costs. We have to make a profit too.” Angry and a little sad I continued my shopping, but this time I stopped at the frozen food section, picked up a 16 oz. package of frozen blueberries and placed it in my cart.
I learned something this week. Sometimes we have to make compromises. I also learned that frozen blueberries taste just about as good as fresh blueberries, only they are a little soggy and you have some juice to deal with
