The Price of Spice: Will it Reach that of Gold?

Spices were once highly treasured. Once sought by the rich, spices are now available to the common man. Properly grown, plain fruits and vegetables make good eating. So do tender cuts of meat or fish. Nevertheless, the proper application of the correct spices adds immeasurably to flavor. But could it be the modern consumer, whether rich or poor, is spending more than the delectable herbs are worth? Is there reason to examine the cost we are paying for these natural flavor enhancers?

A Visit to the Grocery

Yours truly decided to check out the prices at his local Food Lion grocery store. Prepared to do a little shopping, I went first to the spice aisle. There were two primary selections of spices to choose from--McCormick's and Spice Islands. Here is what I uncovered on July 17, 2011 in Nelson County, Virginia, by way of prices:

McCormick's 100 Percent Organic

Rubbed Sage $123.10 per pound
Tarragon Leaves $202.40 per pound
Oregano $167.68 per pound
Cumin $61.01 per pound
Turkish Bay Leaves $612.44 per pound

Spice Islands

Cilantro $121.28 per pound
Organic Dill $119.80 per pound
Cinnamon Sticks $95.84 per pound
Sweet Basil $102.05 per pound
Bay Leaves $627.43 per pound

Discussion

According to basic economics texts, prices are determined according to the law of supply and demand. So are spices really all that rare? Some may be. One spice that is fairly rare is saffron. This was not found in my local Food Lion grocery store. The spices they do carry, listed here, are not all that rare. So is the demand so great the supply can't possibly measure up to it? Not at all. Sometimes an object that is produced, such as specialty textbooks or medical equipment, may not have a large demand. In that case, it may be costly to produce only a few books or a few pieces of equipment. Is that true of spices? Hardly. So why the exorbitant charge? Maybe because suppliers can get away with it?

Alternatives

There are alternate possibilities as to what the consumer can do. Of course, he or she can discontinue use of the spice. The obvious second alternative is, if one is willing to make certain concessions, most of the spices listed above can be grown in one's own yard. At prices such as the above, perhaps the local grower could sell fresh spices of superior quality at a local produce market. It may not only pay for the growing of one's own supply--it could possibly even provide an income for someone out of work in Today's rotten economy.

References and Resources

University of California Press: The Spice Route

Greek Products: About Saffron