After a lifetime spent living mostly in urban centers, I recently moved to rural Michigan. Jobs are scarce around here and people are poor.

When I first went into the local grocery store I was surprised at the scarcity of fresh fruits and vegetables. Some of the inexpensive basics are available, but there’s very little variety. Certainly, no pomegranates are for sale.

I didn’t understand the scarcity at first, figuring people out here have unsophisticated tastes.

It took me a while to figure out stores don’t offer things people can’t afford to buy.