Scandal gripped southern Haida Gwaii last week when photos of a watermelon half mistakenly priced at $47.77 circulated widely on Facebook.
With the mistaken sticker price showing $13.19 per kilogram, that would have put the cost of watermelon on Haida Gwaii roughly $10 over the B.C. average of $3.91 per kilogram.
One photo garnered dozens of comments like “That can’t be right?!?” and “That’s insane.”
Calls for a pricing review came from every corner of the islands and from people on friends’ lists who live nowhere near here.
And then, finally, a voice of reason cut through the din, saying “I think this is labelled incorrectly.”
Indeed it was.
Haida Gwaii Co-op was quick to give an official response, clarifying that it was a labelling error by an unknown employee.
“My feed has been watermelon for days. I feel like I have closure now,” said one appreciative commentator.
“I thought the price seemed expensive when I bought it, but I tell you, that was the best damn
watermelon I have ever had,” said another. “Hands down. I was happy to pay it.”
Anyone who purchased the overpriced half-melon is welcome to return it to Co-op for a refund. Many apologies were given, and Haida Gwaii Co-op thanked the membership for highlighting the mistake.
Turns out it takes a village to price a melon.
In my opinion, Watermelongate highlights how intimately local grocers and the community are connected. I, for one, greatly value every member of the Co-op staff and think they do a solid job getting us products and providing employment in the community.
Of course, it also begs the question of how this unnamed employee looked at the label and thought, “That looks fine,” accustomed (as they undoubtedly are) to insanely priced produce.
Local food production needs to be supported, and the Northern Living Allowance needs to be the full amount so we can continue to support our local grocers who deal with costs they can’t control and have to pass on to the consumer.