Shopping

Grocery shopping here is much better in some ways than what I had up north. There are more fresh fruits and vegetables available year round at reasonable prices at the Fort Pierce Farmers Market and supermarket produce sections, as well as at community farm markets, such as the Vero Beach outdoor market (below). These two towns I live near have a weekly farm market on one of their community squares all through the year. They offer fresh baked goods, fresh brewed coffee, cold fruit drinks, crepes, vegetables, cooked foods, donuts, jams, canned goods and on and on. It's wonderful to attend and mingle and talk to the vendors of the foods you take home. 

Naturally, there is always a lot of citrus fruit available here. I believe a person eats healthier just being here than we do up north. The colors of the produce are lively and bright and urge you to take some home. The foods we prepare for lunches and dinners are full of fresh vegetables 12 months a year, not just during the 3 summer months. And the warmth of each season encourages you to eat light, healthy foods. It's all so succulent, plentiful and colorful in the produce aisles you can't resist. The seafood is also plentiful and fresh in all the stores and shops. Scallops and shrimp to stir-fry with those fresh veggies.

The service in our local supermarkets and stores is excellent. If you are looking for something, a store employee will ask you if you need help and they will walk you to the aisle you need. Everyone is so helpful and friendly.  A real shocker to me is that they will give you a smaller amount of a vegetable, say celery, 2 stalks from a whole package, if you need it - or a couple of carrots or a small piece of ginger root.  This is unheard of in PA.

Shopping for clothing and household items is comparable price-wise to up north. Some stores they have in Florida that I didn't have in PA are Winn-Dixie, Publix (my favorite) and Bealls (clothing). Otherwise, the stores are the same ones we have in the malls I shopped in practically all my life.

Gasoline prices are about the same. At home I used to have two gasoline stations I could go to that had someone come out and pump gas for you. I haven't found any here. That is so convenient in bad weather.