Sugar

September 1998

Shopping in Fiji holds no surprises, as food is plentiful and inexpensive with a varied selection. Fiji has excellent Chinese and Indian stores where spices abound, local dinning is cheap and restaurants often sell their own mix of curry powder. "Cost U Less", an American company identical to COSTCO has just arrived near the two main ports of Suva and Nadi, though the store is not as big as American Samoa the locals are yet to discover it so it was peaceful shopping for us.

Most items are available with prices slightly more than American Samoa. Imported goods have a New Zealand and Australian influence so keep this in mind if you are buying electrical goods. The staff are extremely helpful, accept major credit cards and will even freight items to other locations. Small chain supermarkets are located in each large town but they tend to be hot, crowded and dirty. They do carry imported fruit and vegetables and I buy New Zealand celery, apples and yogurt mix here.

Each town has a local market with excellent local produce. Most items are bought in heaps, which cost one Fijian dollar, or 50 cents U.S. Public transport and taxis are also inexpensive and we generally keep the taxi for a trip into town to help with running around. Most often than not they know where everything is.

This year I ran out of time for the market one of my visits to town and gave my shopping list to Abdul our taxi driver. He then gave it to a good friend who ran a stall at the market and in no time flat my list was completed with the items well selected, bagged, boxed, and a lot cheaper at mate's rates.

Near Vuda Point Marina between Nadi and Lautoka an Australian has established a hydroponics garden to supply the resorts and McDonalds. Wonder Gardens grows beautiful lettuces of many varieties, tomatoes, spring onions, and parsley, selling directly to the public.