Here's the thing - I do the bulk of my food shopping thru Fresh Direct. And yes, the prices have been going up, and I was getting annoyed. So in my order this morning, they forgot 4 very necessary items (never happened before) for my Saturday cooking binge. Great. I go to Food Emporium, the only market near me (their competition became a Duane Reade a couple of months ago).

My missing bag of onions? Was $0.99, at FE $2.99. My portobello mushrooms were $3, at FE $5. My eggplant was $1.49/lb, at FE $2.49. The ground cinnamon was a buck, and for half the amount at FE, it was $5.99. That's right - $5.99!

I could not believe it. I stood there, muttering to myself. One of the produce guys came by and asked me if I needed anything, and I was like, "How can you charge so much?" He agreed.

I've been living in a food's paradise. I mean, I know that food's more expensive in Manhattan, and certainly on the UES where I am, but this?

Are you finding such shocking prices where you live? Am I the last person in town to realize this?