The Thanksgiving holiday food basket survey findings were completed on Nov. 14 on St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John, according to a press release issued by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs. The survey is designed to inform consumers of 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 five stores were surveyed: Pueblo Golden Rock and La Reine, Plaza Extra stores in Christiansted and Frederiksted, and Stop & Shop. A total of 31 of the same items were compared at each location. The difference between the highest and lowest priced holiday food basket was $4.21.
Some of the items that made up the holiday food basket for St. Croix included: flour, sugar, eggs, corn meal, rice, bread crumbs, stuffing mix, cabbage, celery, lettuce, onion, instant mash potatoes, chick peas, pigeon peas, raisins, vinegar, vegetable oil, mayonnaise, evaporated milk, turkey and turkey gravy.
The lowest priced market basket was found at Plaza Extra’s Frederiksted location with a basket cost of $85.18. Stop & Shop came in second with a food basket cost of $87.30. Plaza Extra’s Christiansted location came in third with a market basket cost of $87.48. Pueblo’s La Reine location came in fourth with a food basket cost of $88.69. Closing out the survey, coming in fifth was Pueblo’s Golden Rock location with a market basket cost of $89.39
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 38 of the same items were compared at each location. The difference between the highest and lowest priced holiday food basket was $10.10
Some of the items that made up the holiday food basket for St. Thomas included: sweet potatoes, cabbage, fresh pumpkin, parsley, onions, green banana, green peppers, butter, potatoes, macaroni and cheese, flour, pigeon peas, turkey stuffing mix, chicken stuffing mix, apple juice, raisins, mayonnaise, turkey, smoked ham, sparkling cider, vegetable oil, corn meal, turkey gravy, Sofrito, cloves, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie mix, bread crumbs, baking powder, foil paper, cream liquor.
The lowest priced holiday food basket was found at Plaza Extra with a basket cost of $135.82. Pueblo’s Sub Base and Long Bay locations came in second and third respectively. Pueblo Sub Base had a food basket cost of $140.31, while Pueblo’s Long Bay location had a food basket cost of $142.42. Food Center came in fourth with a basket cost of $145.92.
St. John
On St. John three stores were surveyed: Dolphin Market, Starfish Market and Pine Peace Mini Mart. A total of 30 of the same items were compared at each location. The difference between the highest and lowest priced holiday food basket is $22.23.
Some of the items that made up the holiday basket for St. John included: sweet potatoes, cabbage, fresh pumpkin, celery, onions, potatoes, green banana, green peppers, cheddar cheese, eggs, turkey stuffing mix, chicken stuffing mix, macaroni and cheese, sparkling cider, cranberry juice, mayonnaise, bread crumbs, cranberry sauce, turkey gravy, diced tomato,
cream liquor, vegetable oil, and evaporated milk.
The lowest priced food basket was found at Pine Peace Mini Mart with a basket cost of $86.50. Dolphin Market came in second with a food basket cost of $96.10. Coming in third was Star Fish Market with a holiday basket cost of $108.73
Consumers are reminded to shop wisely and compare food prices to make the best economic choices. DLCA’s holiday 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 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.
