(too late for edit)
I also thought the estimates of the cheeses’ cash value were fun because it reminded me of when I (a cheese freak) lived in the Netherlands and loooooved how what the Dutch considered normal, mid-quality, boring everyday gouda cheese cost about $3.50/lb (back then; maybe $5 now). But once imported to the USA the same cheese would sell for $8 or 9/lb. then, maybe $11-13 now.
OK, there’s import duties and tarriffs and all that but then why does gouda produced in Wisconsin cost about $12 now when Wisconsin cheddar costs about $5.50? I like US cheddar ok but in general “basic” cheeses in the US can not even approach so-so Dutch cheeses in quality.
What is up with this? Is it that the Dutch (and Europeans in general) simply will not tolerate lame cheese at ANY price but also will not accept everyday cheeses priced reach?
It’s the same with the average store-brand cookies at an average Dutch/European grocery store. Delicious cookies made with real sugar butter, eggs, flour, and little else cost the same as the Crisco, HF corn-syrup, soy lecithin, artificial whey solids, etc “cookies” in American grocery stores. You can buy some of the European cookies in the USA for 3x their European price (!)
Why do American settle for such low-quality in so many things?
