Maine has many different places where you can grab your groceries for the week, but this particular place will cost you the most.
Grocery stores are great, aren’t they? You can turn your errands into a one-stop shop in the right spot. We’re familiar with grocery stores, but what’s the most expensive one in our Pine Tree State?
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The publication Delish released a list of ‘The Most Overpriced Grocery Stores In America.’ Five different grocery chains were highlighted: Erewhon Market, Acme Markets, The Fresh Market, Harris Teeter, and Whole Foods Market. The latter of which, Maine has experience with.
Photo by Martijn Baudoin on Unsplash
Whole Foods Market is the largest American chain of supermarkets that specializes in natural and organic foods. So, when dealing with ‘natural’ and ‘organic,’ there’s no surprise that the prices are going to trend a little higher.
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Additionally, Whole Foods Market has strict quality standards for the products it sells, which often means sourcing from smaller, more specialized producers who charge higher prices. Whole Foods stores also tend to be larger and more upscale than many other supermarkets, which can lead to higher overhead costs.
There’s only one Whole Foods Market in our Pine Tree State, and of course, it’s in our largest city. Our Whole Foods Market is on Somerset St. in Portland and first opened in February of 2007, since then, it’s been Maine’s only Whole Foods Market.
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There was a Whole Foods Market opened in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in June of 2021, and that’s kind of close to Maine, right?
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You won’t believe just how many nasty, germy thinks you touch in a grocery store. The Top 5 will make you want to start wearing rubber gloves when you shop.
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Here are the performers who will be coming to the Maine Savings Amphitheater on the Bangor Waterfront in the summer of 2024!
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A comprehensive list of items not accepted by Goodwill Northern New England.
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While influenza remains the top concern for Maine public health experts, other viruses are also currently circulating, including norovirus and COVID-19.
“Influenza is clearly the main event,” said Dr. Cheryl Liechty, a MaineHealth infectious disease specialist. “The curve in terms of the rise of influenza cases was really steep.”
Maine reported 1,343 flu cases for the week ending Jan. 3, an uptick from the 1,283 cases recorded the previous week, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Hospitalizations increased to 147 from 108 during the same time periods.
“I hope the peak is now,” Liechty said, “but I’m not really sure.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Friday that all of New England, except for Vermont, is currently experiencing “very high” levels of influenza. Vermont is in the “moderate” category.
“What we are seeing, overwhelmingly, is the flu,” said Andrew Donovan, associate vice president of infection prevention for Northern Light Health. “We are seeing both respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses in our patients.”
Norovirus also appears to be circulating, although due to its short duration and because it’s less severe than the flu, public health data on the illness — which causes gastrointestinal symptoms that typically resolve within a few days — is not as robust.
“Norovirus is the gastrointestinal scourge of New England winters and cruise ships,” Liechty said.
According to surveillance data at wastewater treatment plants in Portland, Bangor and Lewiston, norovirus levels detected in those communities are currently “high.” The treatment plants participate in WastewaterSCAN, which reports virus levels in wastewater through a program run by Stanford University and Emory University.
Dr. Genevieve Whiting, a Westbrook pediatrician and secretary of the Maine chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said viruses are prevalent right now, especially the flu and norovirus.
“For my patients right now, it’s a rare encounter that I hear everyone in a family has been healthy,” Whiting said. “I’ve had families come in and say their entire family has had norovirus. Several of my patients have had ER visits for suspected norovirus, where they needed IV fluids because they were dehydrated.”
Both Liechty and Whiting said they are seeing less respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, likely because there has been good uptake of the new RSV vaccine, which is recommended for older people and those who are pregnant. The vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2023.
“The RSV vaccine has been a real success, as RSV was a leading cause of hospitalizations for babies,” Whiting said.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases increased to 610 in the final week of 2025, compared to 279 the previous week. Influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations are available at primary care, pharmacies and clinics across the state.
“If you haven’t gotten your flu shot yet,” Liechty said, “you should beat a hasty path to get your shot.”
Defensemen Max Wanner was re-assigned to the Maine Mariners from the Providence Bruins on Thursday. Defenseman Michael Underwood was also re-assigned to Maine.
Wanner, 22, was acquired by the Boston Bruins when they traded Trent Federic to Edmonton last March. He played in 15 games for the AHL Providence Bruins at the end of last season, and seven this season.
Underwood returns for his second stint with the Mariners. He appeared in 67 games with Maine last season.
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