Yellowknife Walmart offering fresh produce for first time

From English cucumbers to Gala apples, shoppers will notice some new food items for sale at Yellowknife’s Walmart.

A fresh produce section has popped up at the big-box store on Old Airport Road in recent days, offering a selection of non-refrigerated fruits and vegetables at the location for the first time.

Among items for sale on Monday were avocados, carrots, oranges, lemons, sweet onions, cherry tomatoes and potatoes.

The store has expanded its bagged bread section alongside the usual aisles of non-perishable food items, though Yellowknife’s Walmart does not currently have a refrigerated or frozen food section.

The new produce section at Walmart adds another option for shoppers in Yellowknife to buy fresh vegetables and fruit alongside two Independent Grocers, the Lakeshore Co-op – which has its own hydroponic greenhouse – and the Yellowknife Farmers’ Market, alongside local market gardens.

Price comparison

While Walmart offers less variety and stock of fresh produce than other grocery stores in the city, Cabin Radio found Walmart was offering some products at a slightly lower cost compared to two nearby stores on Monday.

In a straightforward price comparison – not including discounts related to membership, points or other special offers, and based purely on price tags visible on the day – a seedless cucumber grown in Canada that cost $1.24 at Walmart was listed for $2.50 at both the Co-op and uptown Independent Grocer.

A pineapple was being sold for $4.97 at Walmart, while the tropical fruit was advertised as being $6 at Independent Grocer and $6.99 at the Co-op.

Walmart was selling a 2lb package of kiwis for $10.97, comparable in price to $11 for 2lbs of kiwis at Independent Grocer. The Co-op was selling a 1lb container of kiwis for $5.99.

A mini watermelon was going for $6.44 at Walmart, $7.99 at the Co-op and $8 at Independent.

Walmart was selling a 3lb bag of Gala apples from the USA for $6.97, compared to $9.49 at the Co-op.

A three-pack of garlic from China was 98 cents at Walmart, while Co-op was selling a three-pack of garlic for $1.49. At the Independent, only organic garlic was available in a three-pack at a cost of $4.50.

An employee at the Yellowknife Walmart told Cabin Radio the store was not permitted to give media interviews.

Walmart Canada’s corporate media relations did not immediately return Cabin Radio’s request for comment.