Trader Joe's isn't in Canada, much to the chagrin of cities such as Toronto and Vancouver, both of which would heartily support a Trader Joe's location. Sure a lot of Canadians could travel into the States and buy up Trader Joe's food. But one store in Vancouver has a, uh, more convenient solution.
Pirate Joe's on 4th Avenue near Vine in Vancouver is a small shop with a simple mission: the owner travels to the United States to buy Trader Joe's foods, brings them into Canada, and then sells them in his store.
Yes, Pirate Joe's is being sued by Trader Joe's, but the store goes out of its way to point out that it isn't associated with Trader Joe's.
The nearest Trader Joe's for Vancouverites is in Bellingham, Washington, but that involves a 60-mile trip each way and dealing with customs. True, the prices are higher at Pirate Joe's but you can think of it as a delivery charge.
Since the products come from the United States, the labels are only in English, not a problem in the States, but definitely an issue in Canada. Labels are in English and French throughout Canada, even if French runs behind Mandarin and Cantonese in Vancouver.
Canadians deserve a shot at these products, especially in Vancouver and Toronto. We can even make a trade for more Trader Joe's for Canadians and more Tim Hortons for the United States.
For more details, check out this column from our sister blog, BalanceofFood.com.
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