How do the poor eat well down here?

Posted on by Aurel Peterson

I have lived in Asheville for a little more than a year and love it. One of the reasons I moved from New England was because of the cost of living. I bought a darling house for a price that wouldn't be possible up North.

However, I find the food here to be extraordinarily expensive. I just spent $71 on food for one person and one small dog, and it won't last for a full week.

I was looking for Romano cheese for grating. An ordinary brand cost $14.95 per pound. In Rhode Island I could buy it imported from Italy at half the cost. Goodbye cheese, goodbye organic vegetables, goodbye to the quality of food I am used to eating. Plus the food is slapped with a high sales tax that is regressive.

How do the poor eat well down here?

— Aurel Peterson
Asheville

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3 thoughts on “How do the poor eat well down here?”

  1. Dianna Schmidt

    My husband and I have said exactly the same thing. I was born and reared in Tennessee. A very small town of about 10,000. Not only was the selection of groceries better in my home town, they were cheaper too.

    Maybe the exorbitant prices here are due to transportation issues. I honestly believe products arrive here by canoe and mule train.

  2. invisiblefriend

    Im really confused. Is the author of this letter stating that she is poor and cannot afford food that is considered “well”?…but….she just bought a house. I know the word poor could be considered relative, but if she is considering her situation to be poor, than that means there must be “super poor” people and “grossly impoverished” people lurking about Asheville. Some people dumpster dive in the cold at midnight, and some people have to painstakingly deal with not having a certain type of cheese to grate. Im sorry the author has to suffer in these conditions.

  3. kathrynchappelear

    Ahhh-that is the question! For those of us who do not qualify for foodstamps we have learned to clip coupons,buy reduced price meats,and shop at the many grocery outlet stores within our area. Yes-a dozen eggs for $2 is outrageous-so I might go without…

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