Grocery Shopping in 1971

[moderncleveland]

We had an Epson LX-80, I believe, way back when. Back in the day, they made the best printers! That Timex looks incredible... wow...

 

[bradfordwhite]

first video

Is that Rosario from Will & Grace?

 

 

[petek]

I think Safeway had the most iconic or at least the most recognizable store design with their arched rooves. Even though the older ones weren't near as humongous as todays stores they were bright and open on the inside.

 

[bradfordwhite]

I think I can up your arch though.

 

[bradfordwhite]

Yes, before there were Kohl's department stores stretching across the U.S. we had Kohl's food stores in the Midwest.
They used to have such good bakery.

 

[vacerator]

Kohl's supermarkets

were an A&P banner since the 1990's at least. I don't think they were ever part of the Dept. stores.

 

[vacerator]

Maxwell Kohl

did also found the grocery stores in 1949.

 

[mark_wpduet]

This is so freaking cool! When looking at all of that produce I have to wonder...was everything ORGANIC and non-GMO back then... I do know there are three ways to look at produce today...
1. Organic
2. Conventionally grown but non-GMO (I THINK)
3. GMO which automatically means not organic..

I'm almost sure there was nothing GMO back then...but I'm not sure if things were automatically organic or conventionally grown only...

 

[ea56]

Everything was NOT organic back in 1971. Most major grocery stores sold produce that came from big growers and farms which mostly used pesticides in their farming operations. The organic movement in produce and other foods was just beginning in 1971.

Eddie

 

[mark_wpduet]

Yeah

I assumed that would be the case...but I'm pretty sure nothing was genetically modified...which I totally don't trust at all

 

[bradfordwhite]

Are you joking? Back in the 40s-50s chemical additives were thought to be an UPGRADE to one's food. Isn't that crazy.

They were hosing down nature, and schools, and anyone and everything with DDT, poisons, and who knows what other carcinogens.

It's wasn't until birth defects in humans and entire animal species and bird species were threatened with extinction that they realized the heavy handed-ness of spreading all those chemicals just might be a problem.

It was the 1970s when people were only starting to get organized and demanding to stop being used as human guinea pigs.

And of course there were the ubiquitous republicans bad talking those who were speaking up and looking out for society. As usual, republican criminals/oil industry were wrong and did serious damage to society again.

For example: with the Salton Sea drying up in southern California there is a real fear that the fine sediments in the lake will become air borne during wind storms. The Salton sea is basically a low spot that doesn't not drain and used to receive a lot of run off from farms in the central valley. So the lake floor is a repository of the history of chemical poisons from last century. If they become air borne it will be disasterous.

 

[bradfordwhite]

California is the nations food basket but the Salton Sea was the recipient of chemical run-off for the better part of a century.

The Salton sea no longer receives water from the Colorado which means it's drying up.

Now controlling the dust is crucial.

 

[qsd-dan]

Synthetic pesticide use began in the 1930's so that was probably end of organic foods. However, in the 15th century, toxic chemicals such as arsenic, mercury and lead were being applied to crops to kill pests.

We've been poisoning ourselves for centuries.

 

[bradfordwhite]

As far as "modified" foods: That's a broad category.

I'm sure we've been grafting trees, vines, and plants for centuries.



No doubt animals have been spliced and twisted and modified to give the most muscle bound variant.



Won't even take a shot at the dates this started.

It's truly impressive, if not scary, what man has done to feed his varied appetite.

 

[bradfordwhite]

Muzak

What do the stores you shop at play if anything?

 

[kenwashesmonday]

What do the stores you shop at play if anything?

Oldies from the 1960s & 1970s.

 

[vacerator]

Our stores

played "Musac" taped easy listening and top 40 instrumentals in the 70's, and 80's.
By 1991 we had sattelite music with all varieties of channels. I'd walk into stores early mornings and hear Howard Stearn as the night crew was finishing up, or acid rock.
I remember one D.M. forbidding any Michael Jackson song played subsequent to the accusastion's made against him.

 

[bradfordwhite]

What types of stores are playing "oldies" and really any music these days?

Most stores I go to don't play anything.

One store that does, Grocery Outlet, can be found playing 70s rock, or muzak, or country, or nothing. It just depends on who the manager is that day it seems.

I would think most chain stores wouldn't play anything of a particular radio played genre for fear of being too biased. That's not good for business. Nor is having the store too hot.

When I lived in Southern Virginia I went to an eye doctor for the initial visit. Not only did they have christian based paintings and plaques on the waiting room walls they were playing christian themed soft rock. So annoying. I cancelled the appointment and left after sitting through 5 minutes of that. Just so rude.

 

[mattl]

Anything from the 70s, 80s and 90s are  "oldies". Even the 00s might fall into that category.

 

I noticed my Kroger playing local Adult Contempory radio.

 

[davey7]

There's a local chain in the Chicago area, Caputo's, that has their very own music, usually rat pack standards with special lyrics, such as....

"Caputo's is, my kind of store, Caputo's is...."

Yes, seriously...

(it's also a good grocer - great for Italian items and good produce, bulk spices, etc)