Went to Kroger for Groceries: Trip Report

By Elizabeth Prata

I haven't left the property for a week, since the day we were let out of school and the national emergency due to the pandemic of COVID-9 was declared. I went to get food, like I always do on Fridays, then hunkered down to see what came next.

I read online of places being out of stock, people acting crazy. I'm glad where I am people seem to be more reasonable. I decided that since the weather was nice, and my perishables has been eaten, I'd make my weekly trip to Kroger to pick up fruit and vegetables. It was 10 am.

The roads were a lot less traveled, but then again, I'm in a rural area and there never is much traffic. 3 cars at a stop sign is traffic. More than one car inside the rotary is traffic. Not making all the lights in my 14 mile journey (all 3 of them) is traffic.

But the roads were less traveled. Parking lots were empty. No one was idling at the train crossing waiting for the train to go by.

Kroger was a lot less busy than usual. I found a parking spot near the door with no problem.

The perishables in the produce area have been restocked...mainly. There were gaps. For example, no bagged carrots at all. No broccoli. No bananas. Other things were overflowing, like avocados, tomatoes, and potatoes were back. I guess form here on in it will just depend on the trucks' arrivals.

The seafood counter was bare. No fresh seafood at all. A few already-packaged items like salmon filets or swordfish steaks were in the side cooler. If you wanted seafood your best bet was frozen. The packaged meat area was picked through, though there were some items. I got some roasted chicken meat and that is all I got for protein. I have some frozen in my own freezer, turkey sandwich meat, eggs, and peanut butter. That'll hold me.

Along the interior aisles there were full stocks right next to totally depleted stocks. For example, very few canned beans, hardly any canned tomatoes, peanut butter was low. I had a coupon for a free Kroger peanut butter in 16 oz size but there was only one crunchy left and about 6 creamy left. Other items were fully faced all the way to the edge, like spaghetti or the more expensive peanut butters etc. TP was back on the shelves, but there were gaps in the preferred kinds. Some brands were there, other brands were out. Again, it was hit or miss, but that's better than total miss PLUS chaos from last Friday.

The worst part for me was the lack of marked down items. I rely on the severely reduced produce and other "Woo-hoo!" sales sprinkled throughout the store to make my budget. Items haven't been left on the shelf long enough to approach expiration dates, so I was out of luck and paid full price for everything. Even the circular's weekly sale items were out of stock. But it's OK, I am at home more and moving less, and not stressed so I am eating less.

People were subdued. Some wore masks. Some had gloves. I brought my wipes with me and used them at intervals. No chatting in the aisles. People tried to avoid each other. Not a lot of lingering. No laughter.

I used self checkout, so I'd be the only one touching my items. (I know others have touched them before me.) I noticed when I departed the clerk hurried over with a disinfectant to wipe the touch screen and keypad. Good.

The worst part of the trip was the older man who sneezed right into a bin of honeydew melons without even a scintilla of effort to cover. At least it wasn't a bin of tomatoes or grapes. But it was gross.

As a happy surprise I saw 4 of my church friends! One who is a young mom was in the car idling out front. Her mother had gone in to get food while she waited in the car. Another gang of three roomies stopped me as I crossed the parking lot to say hello. I went back over to the wide sidewalk and awkwardly conversed at louder volume from 6-8 feet away while traffic flowed behind us and people walked between. So, lengthy conversation was not possible, just hihowareyaisn'tthis weird but it was GREAT to see friends.

So, food and stocks will be available it seems. The clerks were working hard to restock and to fulfill curbside orders. People seemed calm.

It is a warm and beautiful spring day out there. The lawn is being cut as I write this. I have always loved the sound of distant lawnmowing. I hear the birds. People outside walking or playing in nearby yards. Life in America these days is different, but it's still good.