A while back strattor was asking where to find rye flour in NYC. I replied that it was difficult to find in Toronto as well but that there was one store we knew of.

Well, not any more....

Yesterday, we rode our bikes over to the store to replenish the rye flour. There were NO 5kg bags of "Five Roses" dark rye flour!! Nor any 2.5kg bags of "Five Roses" dark rye flour!! They did have some little bags of "Bob's Red Mill" at around $3 for 600gms! We continued riding, visiting all the supermarket chains. Not one of them was selling rye flour in bags larger than 600gm (Yes, it was BRM, all priced about the same, give or take 25¢). Most of them had zero rye flour on their shelves. Some of them had 5kg bags of a multigrain blend wheat flour (white and whole wheat), cracked wheat, cracked rye and whole flax. How useless is that?

This morning, I spoke with someone at "Five Roses" and am absolutely devastated to learn that their "dark rye" flour has been discontinued due to slow sales. Wah!!! One good thing though, the woman I spoke with did say that she would pass on my dismay to the correct department, with the note that as the price of wheat rises, people will be looking for alternative grains. "Five Roses" (was a Canadian company) is now owned by the US based company "Smucker Foods".

And now here's some really disturbing news. "Robin Hood" (that I always thought was Canadian, but googling shows that it was started in the US and moved into Canada in the earlier part of the 1900s) is now ALSO owned by "Smucker Foods". So much for competition....

Where in Toronto can I buy rye flour at a reasonable price? A 5kg bag would be nice.

My name is Hayley Mick and I'm a writer with the Globe and Mail, Canada's national newspaper. I write for the Life section, mostly about health issues but also about people's extracurricular pursuits.

Right now I'm researching a story about how rising food prices are affecting amateur bakers (particularly Canadian bakers!). Have you been forced to bake less? Or maybe you're getting more creative with your recipes -- Or discovered new places to buy ingredients at a discount. 

If you're able to chat, I'd need to speak to you this week, by Wednesday at the latest. Just send me your number and I'll give you a ring, or my numbers are below. 416-585-5118. email hmick@globeandmail.ca.

Thanks, hope to hear from you soon.

Hayley

Got the Maggie Glazer book "A Blessing of Bread" today, Tue April 15, 2008, new hardcover for $9.99 (CND)! Woot!

Anyone in Canada, check your local Chapters/Indigo while they still have stock. It's a walk-in sale only but you can check online to see if your local store(s) have any copies on the shelves. It looks like it's being remaindered so there may not be a whole lot of copies available out there. at this price (listed at $49.95)

-Paul