Northern Food Basket

Newfoundland and Labrador

Food is shipped under the Food Mail Program from Happy Valley-Goose Bay to isolated communities on the North Coast of Labrador and to Cartwright and Black Tickle.

For all communities in Labrador and for St. Anthony, the cost of the basket is based on the lowest price available in the community for each item in the basket, using a specific purchase size and, for most products, a specific brand. However, the number of stores varies from one community to another and, in some communities, the number of stores has changed over the years. For St. John's, the cost is based on prices in one supermarket.

Isolated communities in Labrador became eligible for Food Mail service in October 1991. Because of the regular marine service available on the Labrador coast during the summer and fall, Food Mail is used primarily during the winter and spring, except for highly perishable items that are shipped year round to these communities by Food Mail. Communities on the South Coast of Labrador became eligible for Food Mail service from St. Anthony in October 1991. However, these communities did not use the Food Mail Program and were removed from the program as the Trans-Labrador Highway was extended northwards.

The surveys in 1990 were completed in July, before break-up in Nain, but after break-up elsewhere. The surveys in 1991 were completed in the fall, before freeze-up. All of the surveys since then have been completed during the winter or spring, before break-up, except for those in Nain and Hopedale in 2002, which were completed in September.

Weekly cost of the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2003

Updated
2003-10-7

Weekly cost of perishables in the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2003

Updated
2003-10-7

Weekly cost of non-perishables in the Northern Food Basket for a family of four, 1990-2003

Updated
2003-10-7

Cost of the Northern Food Basket (PDF 47 Kb) in selected communities in Labrador, as well in St. John's and St. Anthony, since 1990.

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