By request, I actually went in to the Econo in Rincon today to take pictures of the produce section. I also took a couple snap shots of the fish section.
We really were just so spoiled in California. We had so many options. Here, if you want to make a salad, you can! You just won’t have the same options from the local grocer. For example…you can always get iceberg lettuce and the carrots are always ripe. However, you may not be able to get spinach or spring mix and the tomatoes may all be green.
Here are a couple of pictures for you (by request):
Puerto Rican Grocer - Da’ Fruit!
Caribbean Deep Water Fish? Not so much.
Popularity: 22% [?]
Hi! I have seen your blog for a while and I must comment on this subject as a Puerto Rican who moved from Cabo Rojo, PR to El Centro, CA two years ago, and shops in Vons almost daily.
I believe that is unfair to compare a CA supermarket with a PR one. Because everyone is suited to their costumers tastes.
In PR fresh fish is not a priority, but Salty Pollock Fish Fillets (like the Bacalao Filetes shown in Econo) are important in a PR Supermarket since you can do various important Puerto Rican dishes like Bacalaitos, Arroz con Bacalao, Bacalao en Escabeche con Panas, etc.
I’m getting hungry only thinking about it but this item is not very common in my local Vons.
And salads in the daily Puerto Rican cuisine are not in the top of the list either. Unless someday a healthy lifestyle craze gets a hold on the average pre-diabetic Puerto Rican gordito, rice and beans will always be king. And green bananas like the ones they have in the Econo in Rincon are nowhere to be seen in this desert. So no Puerto Rican “pasteles” for me this Christmas only Mexican “Tamales”.
I must add that since my wife was from Aguada, that supermarkets in Rincon and Aguada face more competition than anywhere else in the West coast. You have four strong supermarkest chains (Coop Aguada, Econo, Pitusa, Mr Special) fighting for the same market which cuts on their margins and store investment.
While in Cabo Rojo we had only two supermarkets (Pueblo and Mr Special) and down there supermarkets are more California like.
And regardless of whatever you say, I think that PR malls are nicer than SoCal’s and I think that Plaza Las Americas surpasses every mall around here in a single heartbeat.
I cannot wait to retire in PR!
That fish section is so ridiculous, I never even noticed. I just don’t get it. There is SO much good fishing on this island! I went to Harney Sushi with Shawn in Old Town last night…Jealous?!?!
Ivan:
First off, I really appreciate your input on this, your perspective is very enlightening. I always wondered why there were so many Bacalaitos coming and going in the local econo. It seems that those are being restocked more often then the 10oz cans of Medalla!
I am going to repeat myself, just to make sure you don’t think Summer and I are too judgmental. We are just so spoiled in California…which by the way, went through that healthy lifestyle craze before I was even born, hence all the grocery stores being stocked with Organic produce, organic poultry and USDA Prime A meats that we grew up eating and shopping for. Of all people, you must be able to relate to moving somewhere and having to give up the foods you grew up with. You definitely won’t starve, but if you are blogging to the world about your experiences, you’ll probably mention a few tidbits about the lack of Bacalaitos in your new local grocer that isn’t allowing you to eat in the fashion you are accustomed to. That inconvenience doesn’t make you want to drop a bomb on El Centro, but it sure makes you miss your local grocer.
As for the malls: I haven’t been to Plaza Las Americas, but I am sure we will hit it up one of these days. Really though, as nice as the Fashion Vally Mall is, I still think the only good thing about it is all of the super cute college girls working there and wondering around spending daddy’s money with keys to their brand new BMW in their pocket. I’d prefer to order online or at a locally owned store…
Summer: The only reason I brought up hot girls was a form of retaliation to your Sushi night at Harney in Old Town. WHATEVER!
Stefan,
Plaza is nice, like a larger South Coast Plaza. Valet is mandatory if you don’t like searching for your car an hour later. Any mall that has a Borders as an anchor store is good for me
Summer - Thanks for the photos. Doesn’t look too bad. Hey at least they have carts and the produce doesn’t look moldy… Belize seems to be really lacking in the refrigeration capabilites so everything went over ripe quick. But what you have is definitely not Whole Foods, or TJ’s.
And the fish boo hoo… Maybe you can pack a stryofoam cooler & duct tape with dry ice and fish on your next journey back to PR.
Or better yet, Stefan could buy a boat and start deep sea fishing, he seems like a waterman… And he could use it for surfing, gotta have access to those outer breaks and you could also do some sort of charter or boat - bed & breakfast…..
As another transplanted Puerto Rican–north-east coast luquillense–also living in Claifornia, I can also attest to the vast difference in porduct quality and availability, but I agree with Ivan’s observations. The average boricua grocery store is targeted at the local population. Starchy root vegetables are much higher on the priority list that greens for instance. This said, spinach, salad mix are often available at Costco on the island. Much of this produce is flown in, and thus carries a high price. Local produce is also available–the best being found at local markets, plaza mercados, and road side vendors. Better grocery stors such as Amigo and the recently reopened in select locations Pueblo. A farmer’s market also take place in San Juan on I believe a bi-weekly basis.
While local lettuce may not meassure up to Salinas Valley (Monterey County) red and green leaf with mache and frisse, you needn’t make do with iceberg. Lechuga del pais, hydroponically grown is redily available–I mean even “los de Crea” the ex-capsuleros and tecatos or mantequeros (slang for junkies) from Hogares Crea sell it on the street for less than a buck. To this add some readily available watercress brought in fresh from Santo Domingo and some shredded red leaf cabage. It works out well, trust me. If you can hook-up with a farmer, many also produce Boston Bibb lettuce for hotels.
As for the tomatos, again local markets, costco, or get to know a farmer–especially in the productive Lajas valley, or simply grow your own–they do quite well and require little attention. My parents have for years grown heirloom tomatoes on the island with great success–the grape, cherry, and pear varieties in all colors doing exceptionally well. But be warned bugs love other crops such as cucumbers, brassicas (brocolli), and other groups. Solution: use containers, plant marigolds, and spray with neem oil or marigold tea–an extract of maigold flowers leaves and water–regularly. A tropical spinach substitute such as malbar spinach or new zealand spinch can also be grown–note container the new zealand stuff because it will spread like a weed.
In terms of local fish you need to get to know a fisherman or some one form the local fishing collectives (associacion de pescadores) or buy a hawaiian sling. Fresh fish is a direct from producer product. Snappers, groupers,and lobsters are favorites but comand a high price–and be careful with really large snappers or groupers in excess of 10 lbs because these may conatin ciquatera a bio-accumulated neuro toxin from reef dinoflagilates (shit I hoped I spelled all that right). Species like tuna can often be bought cheaply because they are not local favorites. If fishing is your thing remember the rivers teem with large shrimp, good eels (yes of the unagi type) and a delicious fresh water mullet known as Dajao (janga or jenga in Jamaican or Mountain mullet)–I always think they’d make a good substitute for a skewered ayu style salt crusted, open flame roasted fish.
And finnaly on to bagels. As I am sure you are aware, they often come frozen. My advice, stock up when you see them. Aguadilla should have a more steady supply, and from what I hear they even have a tortilleria somewhere out on the west coast–I can;t promise you guerrero, but look into it. Remember the freezer is often yor friend.
This aside, learn to eat like the locals albeit with hopefully more fresh vegetables. I wish you luck, my hats off to you, and hopefully when I finish teaching here at LAUSD I’ll have earned a super phat retirement so I too can unleash an awsome finca of my own.
Good luck, watch the guardias, puntos can be dangerous, there is never enough crippy, and stay away from capiando en el caserio.
Peace,
Gettin’ rich in Downey
you have to get used to the island. i`m from longisland$$$$$ and lived on the island for many years. i left for 6 years but i am moving back in may way better than mexico anytime you can survive on things to eat on any land!!!
I just stumbled upon your site and have been enjoying reading about your move to Rincon. I am puertorican, born and raised in San Juan, but lived in Rincon and Mayaguez for my 5 years in College. I also lived 4 years in San Diego and now live in the Bahamas.
I totally understand the supermarket situation. We moved to the Bahamas from San DIego and it’s true, we were completely spoiled with good, fresh produce in San Diego; I miss Henry’s sp much! But, I wanted to point out that you guys now live in a SMALL town in PR, not the city. It’s kind of like living in Julian, but near the beach. The supermarkets in San Juan and the metropolitan area are bigger and have a lot more variety than the ones in smaller towns, like Rincon.
We used to miss PRican food while living in San Diego, but enjoyed the different types of food we found. We would make sure to pig out everytime we went back home. Now, living in the Bahamas, we’re getting used to a lot of conch and grouper…
Good luck!
If you want to be spoil-rotten with good produce you have to drive to San Juan (Pueblo and Grande Supermarkets are really good). The Super WalMart in Carolina-Escorial is really super awesome. The other day I got me some strawberries, lychee, pomegranate, watercress, rhubarb, crispy snow peas and some other shit I can’t recall.
They also have a great Costco with nice beef, veal, fish cuts.
BTW, welcome to PR.