The first time we learned how to shop every other month was back in 2006 when kidnapping became a problem in Port-au-Prince so travel was restricted.
Lists are very important!
Saint Marc is much smaller than Port-au-Prince with fewer places to shop.
With over 3 hours of waiting in the morning at the bank, and an hour at a hardware store, Cory didn't start grocery shopping until the afternoon.
Even in the less familiar town, Cory managed to get a good mix of supplies.
Fresh bread from a bakery, fruit and vegetables at an open air market: cabbage, carrots, egg plant, onion, green peppers, tomato, okra, mangos, grapefruit.
Cory went to 3 small grocery stores.
Items pictured include: oil, corn meal, oatmeal, peanut butter, tomato paste, ketchup, honey, popcorn, ginger [some for planting], cookies [to celebrate end of school year], soy sauce, soap, TP, BBQ sauce, homemade peanut-brittle, white sugar for making jam, key limes, tomatoes, baking soda, cheese crackers, cheese spread.
The two pieces of hard candy were given rather than the small change that was owed Cory
We still had plenty of food for a month or so at the house but...
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| Older pantry stock: 20 liter jug of palm oil, 11# bag of corn flakes, brown sugar |
With Coronavirus cases increasing daily, but still seeming early on the curve, no one knows how Haiti will be impacted in the weeks and months to come.
Rainy season, while good for crops and trees is not good for the mountain dirt road so we do not know when Cory will be able to shop again.
Also in the back of our mind is needing possibly to share with our workers, therefore a large 55 pound bag of rice.
Cory found the stores with plenty of items for sale.
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| Flour, rice, and one of our storage buckets |
The prices have not gone up a lot but with Haitian currency loosing value and jobs harder to come by with factories and borders closed; no tourists, many missionaries having left; many Haitians do not have as much money to buy food.
For those interested in prices here are some, these bulk prices per pound are lower than they would be at a supermarket or smaller amounts from re-sellers:
- flour $.28
- sugar .36 (brown sugar slightly less)
- rice .36
- pasta .52
- bread .50
- oatmeal, bulk corn flakes approx 1.00
- gallon oil 6.40
- fertilizer .25
- dog food 1.00
- whole powdered milk, about 6.00
- 'Fransik' mangos, grapefruit 3-5 per $, depending on size, mangos in season now.
- Skippy peanut butter $3.30, good deal at gas station.
Cory and Leon wrapped the bigger bags in two tarps to protect from the rain on the return trip, as the back of the truck is open.
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| Powdered milk, spaghetti from a 10# case |
The last 45 minutes of the trip was steady rain.
A few things did get minor damp due to tarp leaks or shifting of the load: cement, flour, plant fertilizer, a bit of the dog food, so the next day we worked to separate the damp parts from the dry so we can use that first and put the other into storage.
A few things not picked up, like beans, we can have the guys purchase in the village in smaller quantities.
Other items will just remain on the list until someone or Cory heads down the mountain.
Each meal we thank the Lord for His provisions for us and pray for those who are hungry and in need.
Lord please provide and protect them.
Multiply the provisions that they have and are able to get.
Draw people to you and show them Your love and care.
Touch people to share and give assistance.
Allow aid to get to those who really need it.
May You get the glory and honor.
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