I live in teh food desert mentioned.. It's sad but true that we have to drive a loooooong way to go to a "real" store with variety and better prices. Most often (and our little grocery store just re-opened after being shut down all winter...) we can "choose" between bagged iceburg lettuce or a head of it. They try to get in other things, but have to charge accordingly. The bag of baby spinach that sells for $1.19 at the big supermarket will sell for almost $3 here, IF they have it. Steak, this week.... Top Sirloin $1.99/lb on sale at the supermarket...$3.79 a lb here. That head of plain ol' iceburg lettuce 59cents at the supermarket, $1.69 here.

Even with the price of gas, it still pays to make the long trip sometimes, since that's where my son goes to the doctor. Too bad lettuce and such are so hard to KEEP FRESH. <sigh>

I'm contemplating a garden this year, which should help.