Okay, I really wanted to give this small, family owned Mercado my business. My husband and I moved to San Juan Capistrano a little over two months ago from Huntington Beach. I'm very familiar with this area, as I'm a San Clemente Native, and have been bringing my grandchildren to The charming Los Rios District, and Zoomars for the last 15 years.
I deliberately sought out the small , local owned businesses because I believe in supporting them, rather than give my money to the big chain grocery stores. ( I know, what local owned businesses did we have in HB?
There's plenty, and Surf City Tuesday Farmer's Market to name just a few)
So when I went to El Nopal the first time, I spotted some extra large avocados, and I asked the price because there was no sign or price posted. I was told they were $4.00 each, which I thought was high, but I paid $3.49 for Organic Avocados at Sprouts when I missed the Farmer's Market, and I told the young lady at the cashier.
She then told me theirs were Local, California Avocados, not Mexican. ( can you see the irony here?) So I forked over $12 for 3 Avos, and it was Cash Only. Luckily, I had some cash on me.
Yes, the Avocados were delicious, but not "Other Worldly" . Next time I went, there was a Hispanic woman in line in front of me, and she also had to ask the price. in Spanish of course.( This is where all my years in Hotel and Restaurant Management came in handy) HER PRICE was $3.00!! OH, I GET IT NOW... there's the "Local Familia Price, and then there's the Gringo/ Gringa Price!! When I got to the cashier, she smiled, as was friendly like the last time, and I asked her again, "how much are these? She again told me they were $4.00 each, and I said " Really?? " Because the woman in front of me only paid $3.00!! Her response was, "No, she paid $4/each. " to which I replied, I speak Spanish, and also know my numbers in your language also. She kept denying she charged me more, and I walked out feeling really disappointed. All I wanted to do was give a small, local business my money, and become a regular customer. Unfortunately, us, blonde white Gringas are the minority in this town. I'll be at the Dana Point Farmers Market again next Saturday. read more