I live in Alaska too. The worst you see is during the winter when grapes hit $5.99/lb or berries are $6 a small container. But normal vegetables are STILL not that expensive. It's comparative. When minimum wage is $10.80 in your area, $1.99/lb for tomatoes isn't bad. And plus if you get frozen veggies, shop smart, and get lots of basic stuff it's not too bad here. Summer though is amazing for produce