Life in Germany - Grocery Shopping

Perhaps one of the biggest challenges I have faced while living as an expat in Germany is grocery shopping. In Life in Germany - Grocery Shopping I discussed language difficulties which have resulted in several culinary disasters.  An additional challenge is that the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables tends to be what's in season.  The problem is that coming from Canada where you can buy raspberries year round, I have no idea of what is in season.  To date I have returned empty handed while shopping for beets, celery, kale, spinach and raspberries (which for the record are now in season). 

Although I find this extremely inconvenient, eating in season is better for the planet.  Having said that if grocery shopping is my biggest complaint about life in Germany, I'd say that's not much to complain about.

Life in Germany - Grocery Shopping photo courtesy of:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/magro-family/4534535503/